Commissioners approve Pleasant Place private-road application, note missing irrigation easement and turnaround concerns

Jefferson County commissioners voted to approve a private-road application for Pleasant Place while staff asked the applicant to correct several plat items before final recording.

Planning staff reported that Road & Bridge found no issues with the proposed private road and that Central Fire recommended a cul-de-sac rather than the hammerhead turnaround the applicant submitted. The applicant asked to pursue the hammerhead option; staff said both options would require compliance with the private-road ordinance.

Commissioners and staff identified substantive plat deficiencies that must be fixed before final approval: the plat did not show an easement for irrigation and did not specify the water allocation (inches) or the irrigation plan for splitting existing irrigation rights across parcels. Staff warned that if the irrigation system is not a pressurized utility, it may not qualify for a typical utility easement and canal companies prefer consolidated arrangements.

Staff also said the proposed private road length was roughly 1,500 feet in places (the application referenced 750 feet for part of the road) and noted that the area is within the City of Roberts’ impact area. Commissioners approved the application with the understanding that the applicant must resolve the irrigation easement and water-description issues before final platting.

What to watch: the applicant may need to revise the turnaround design to meet Central Fire’s guidance and add a documented irrigation plan and easement. Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) rules and satellite monitoring for irrigated acreage were discussed; staff noted IDWR enforcement for irrigating over half an acre could be triggered by satellite imagery.

Next steps: staff will require plat corrections and final engineering before recording and before construction proceeds.