Plainfield considers changes to private road maintenance and development rules
The Township Board is considering amendments to the rules for private roads. The changes could make it easier to divide land served by a private road and would give township staff more flexibility in approving minor exceptions to design standards for existing roads.
Current status Still pending
What this is Plainfield considers changes to private road maintenance and development rules
Timeline
- Agenda posted from agenda · published Jun 4, 2026
- Agenda posted from agenda · published Jun 5, 2026
- Board review and possible vote listed from agenda · published Jun 5, 2026
This item appeared at a past meeting, but minutes or final action evidence are not in the local record yet. Action may have been taken not yet represented here.
Key facts
- The proposed amendments are to Chapter 28, Article V of the Code of Ordinances, which governs private roads.
- The ordinance was last fully replaced in 2022, and township staff identified a need for more flexibility and efficiency.
- A change regarding maintenance responsibility was made in response to public comments during the first reading of the amendments.
- The Township Board held a second reading and was scheduled to consider adopting the amendments at its meeting on June 8, 2026.
Discretion or exceptions
- If approved, the amendments would grant township staff new discretion to approve "minor administrative departures from design criteria for existing private roads."
Who could be affected
- Property owners on private roads
- Property owners looking to split or develop land served by private roads
- Home buyers and sellers of property on private roads
What could change
- Property owners looking to divide their land would be able to get conditional approval without first getting every other property owner on their private road to sign a new maintenance agreement.
- Township staff would gain the authority to approve minor exceptions to design standards for existing private roads.
- A property owner extending or developing on an existing private road might not be required to pay for upgrading the entire length of the road.
- For road maintenance, any existing recorded agreement would determine who is responsible. If no agreement is on file, all owners who benefit from the road would share the responsibility.
What to watch
- What specific standards would define a "minor administrative departure" that staff could approve for existing private roads?
- If a land division is approved without full consensus on a maintenance agreement, how would future maintenance costs and responsibilities be allocated among all property owners?
- Under what conditions might a property owner still be required to upgrade portions of an existing private road they do not own?
- If the ordinance is adopted, when would the changes take effect?
Questions to check
- The provided documents do not define the specific criteria or limits for the "minor administrative departures" from design standards that township staff would be allowed to grant.
Supporting records
These related records help explain the item, including the agenda listing, staff explanation, and draft text.
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Provide Second Reading and Consider Proposed Amendments to the Private Road Ordinance
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ARTICLE V. PRIVATE ROADS? shall be considered part of the private road that leads off of or to a public road. A private road shall also include any of the following: An access serving one parcel that does not have the requisite amount of frontage on a public road as required by this article or the zoning ordinance. Where two or more parcels or dwellings share or utilize a common access drive, even if each parcel has…
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Sec. 28-253. Design standards. (a) Every private road right-of-way or easement shall have a minimum width of at least 66 feet and shall expressly allow utilities. No part of a private road right-of-way or easement shall be located closer than ten feet to any property line without the written consent of the adjoining property owner of a parcel not served by the subject private road and also with the approval of the p…
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Sec. 28-254. Preliminary private road permit-approval for a new or extended private road; Maintenance agreements. (a) No installation or construction of any kind shall begin on a new private road or extension of an existing private road or on any parcel which depends on such private road for access until a preliminary private road permit approval has been issued granted by the township. No private road easement or r…
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All private roads, including those existing prior to the adoption of the ordinance from which this article is derived, shall be maintained and snowplowed at all times such that emergency vehicles can safely access all parcels served by the private road at all times and in all weather conditions. All private roads, including those existing prior to adoption of the ordinance from which this article is derived, shall b…
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Sec. 28-255. Final private road permit for new private road. Upon completion of construction of a new private road or the extension of an existing private road, the applicant shall submit to the director a completion certificate or similar documentation signed by a registered engineer or land surveyor certifying that the private road has been completed in full accordance with this article, the township approval, the…
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Sec. 28-256. Private road permit for existing private road. (a) No existing or other private road shall be extended (including to add a parcel, lot or condominium unit) or added onto unless all portions of the private road (including the existing portion or portions of the private road and all extensions or additions to the private road) fully comply with all of the procedures and design and construction standards o…
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MEMO TO: Mr. Cameron Van Wyngarden, Township Superintendent FROM: Peter Elam, Senior Planner DATE: June 4, 2026 RE: Private Road Ordinance Amendments Second Reading and Consideration This is a request for the Township Board to provide the second reading and consider proposed amendments to Chapter 28, Article V, Private Roads of the Code of Ordinances (the Private Road Ordinance). This ordinance was repealed and full…
Meeting history
Agenda and minutes records showing when this item appeared and what procedural step it reached over time.
Read excerpt
The item appeared on the Board of Trustees Meeting agenda: Provide Second Reading and Consider Proposed Amendments to the Private Road Ordinance Provide Second Reading and Consider Proposed Amendments to the Private Road Ordinance
Accuracy note
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