General manager
STARKE—Bradford County commissioners said new land sales occurring in the area concern them because buyers may not know the county does not maintain access roads to their properties.
During a December 15 workshop, resident Paul Still cited the recently platted Ranches at New River neighborhood, a 33-lot development of between 10 and 15-acre lots on County Road 235 near the Union County line, as an example of potential problems the county might face because of poorly maintained, private roads.
The Lakewood Ranch-based developer acquired the 372-acre tract on Sept. 27 from a Rayonier-affiliated company for $1.5 million.
I think we’re going to be seeing a lot more of that where the developer comes in and buys a parcel from Rayonier,” he said, “(and sells the divided lots.)”
Still said residents of the new developments could have serious access road issues as private roads within the new neighborhoods deteriorate.
“I agree with you 100%,” responded Commissioner Kenny Thompson.
County Zoning Director Randy Andrews said parcels divided into lots 10 acres or more are not subject to the county’s subdivision rules. He added that developers are notified that the county will not maintain roads within the properties they offer for sale.
Like many new developments in the area, the Ranches at New River’s lots are 10 or more acres. In county records, the neighborhood’s developer indicated that a road maintenance association funded by the property owners would maintain roads within the development.
The zoning director said the developer is responsible for telling buyers that the county does not maintain roads within the neighborhood.
“That’s where I worry about it,” responded Commissioner Diane Andrews, adding that buyers of the River Bend Estates neighborhood near Graham did not know their roads were not county-maintained.
“Sure, there was supposed to be an association set up, but there was not. And there are other places across the county. I think that…we owe it at least to the citizens to let them know: Hey, look, you’re buying a parcel of land where the road will not be maintained. They’ve got to understand that the road is going to be bad in a couple of years.”
Thompson advocated for the commission to upgrade its requirements for new developments immediately.
“If they build a subdivision in there,” he said, “they should be required to have paved roads and paved driveways in there.”
The commissioner added that he, who represents the Lawtey area, and Diane Andrews, whose district covers Brooker and western Bradford County, are getting blamed by residents living on private drives for the county not maintaining the roads.
“It’s getting all of us in trouble,” he said.
