most lots in MPR are rendered unbuildable unless you have two adjoining lots. The health department (Bell County) deemed that any building in Morgans Point should have a spare drain field in case the first fails. Since most lots in MPR are 70x100 or less, building a 1250 sf home will take up all the space (minimum requirement for SFH is 1250 but varies from section to section) when you include one septic filed. Further, since most lots are on type 3 or 4 soil, the health department requires aerobic systems, which take up even more space and are costlier than standard septic systems. Of course it is possible to build a small footprint home, 2 story. But costs start going higher with this plan. Since the required septic systems are expensive ($11K), and lots are too small, lot values from the builder perspective are diminishing in morgans point. Most builders have chosen to move out to other areas of bell County where these issues are not a concern (primarily to West Temple) and have the same school system (Belton schools).

If you research the Temple Daily Telegram nespaper, you will find that in 2007 there were dozens of homes built per month in MPR. In 2008, you will find it diminished to a down to a down for the whole year.

If you want more information on this topic you should consult with the city manager of Morgans Point. If you want legal information, contact Marsh Schiller of Baird, Crews, Schiller in Temple (relates to the legality of what the Bell County Health Department ruled on this issue and what you can do about it).

In the mean time, most lot owners unknowingly truly do have unbuildable lots because the new rules make the price uncompetitive when compared to similarly priced lots in West Temple or Belton.

You could possibly band together as lot owners to fight the new ruling but in the end the Health Department is a god-like entity and quite impossible to persuade or change. Further, there really are good reasons why the rules were changed (having to do with the rise in population and density of people in one area and the saturation of effluents from all these houses, and the complaints because recommended aerobic systems do not work for todays water usage habits ).


Good luck to all the unsuspecting lot owners!