I removed the submit directory, moved the submit.yml.erb to the root local dev app, removed submit from form.xml, and added the batch_connect lines to form.xml. output.log is still showing the same result.
# /etc/ood/config/apps/bc_desktop/form.yml
---
title: "Hellbender Desktop"
cluster: "hellbender"
batch_connect:
template: vnc
attributes:
desktop: "xfce"
bc_vnc_idle: 0
bc_vnc_resolution:
required: true