Development Ticking Up

Real estate development in the southern part of Fayette County ticked up in recent months according to County Inspector Clint Sternadel.

County subdivision regulations require property owners to file development permits when building structures in the unincorporated areas of Fayette County and septic system permits whenever installing an on-site sewer system. The County also requires property owners to file an application whenever they wish to divide their property. Those filings provide a glimpse into rural real estate development trends in Fayette County. In a report to the Fayette County Commissioners Court last Thursday, Sternadel said his office issued 23 new septic permits and 12 development permits in March. In February, his office issued 28 new septic permits and 21 development permits. In addition, Sternadel said his office received 22 applications to divide property in March. That compares to just eight property divisions in February.

“Some of these applications created two tracts and some created eight or 12 tracts,” Sternadel said. “The majority of those were in the southern part of the County, which hasn’t been the trend in the past.”

For many years, the areas around Round Top, Warrenton and Fayetteville in northern Fayette County have seen the most rural development. Sternadel’s recent report indicates that developers may be turning their sights south.

“We’re just a little ways into April, and we’re still seeing a significant number of property division applications,” Sternadel told the commissioners.

“We haven’t had as much division of property in our part of the County,” said Pct. 3 Commissioner Harvey Berckenhoff, who represents the Flatonia area. “But it’s coming our way now.”