PARKERSBURG - Several proposed changes in Wood County's land use regulations were approved Monday by the county commission.

No one attended the public hearing Monday on the proposed amendments to the subdivision regulations.

"These are actually very minor changes. They have already been adopted by the planning commission which then recommended they be sent on to the county commission for approval," said Marty Seufer, county administrator and planning commission coordinator.

One of the changes requires notification of adjoining property owners by certified mail instead of regular mail. Adjoining landowners are notified of any public hearings relating to development of new subdivisions coming before the planning commission.

"Another change relates to the performance bond posted by developers. If a bond is required it will now be for a period of one year irrevocable by the developer and to be renewed on an annual basis until reduced or released," Seufer told the commissioners.

"Previously it was incumbent on the developer to ask to have the bond released," Seufer said.

Under the new regulations, "no later than 30 days prior to the expiration or renewal date of the performance bond, the compliance officers shall make an on-site inspection of the affected area as well as provide a written recommendation to the planning director regarding the status of the bond."

"I think it was the intent of the planning commissioners to tighten up on that regulation," Seufer said.

The road bond issue was again brought to the forefront recently when residents in a Washington area subdivision complained their road had never been in compliance and a bond was still being held on the road. County records showed the street was inspected from time to time but not passed by the compliance officers at the time so the bond was never released. County land use regulations require developers to post a bond to cover the costs of the road work to insure completion of streets to required specifications.

"The burden was always on the developer to call us up when they completed the road and wanted their bond released. The ball was in the developer's court. He was the one to initiate contact about the bond renewal. Under this change, the compliance officer will be checking if the developer has not made contact," Seufer said.

"It hasn't been a problem with most of the developers. The majority of them are doing the work and making progress, but this change will bring to light when there is an issue and the compliance officer will be reporting back to the planning commission," he said. "This will hopefully prevent problems. If, in the opinion of the compliance officer, no progress has been made, he can recommend the bond be called and the county would use the bond money to get the work done."

Commissioners Rick Modesitt and Blair Couch approved the proposed changes while Commissioner Wayne Dunn did not attend Monday's meeting. Officials said he took the day off to go hunting.

The subdivision regulations were last amended in October 2008.