Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Planners Approve Hillside Estates Subdivision
FARMINGTON — City officials and the developer of a proposed subdivision along North Garland McKee Road have come to an agreement in principle to build a sevenacre regional detention pond to help alleviate and reduce flooding that occurs in Meadow Sweet subdivision during major rain events.
Farmington Planning Commission last week unanimously approved a preliminary plat for Hillside Estates, owned by Lots 101, LLC, for a subdivision that includes three one-acre lots, two large agricultural lots and a sevenacre detention pond.
The Commission in April turned down the developer’s first preliminary plat by a 2-3 vote after residents in Meadow Sweet subdivision objected to the proposal, voicing concerns the houses would increase flooding in their neighborhood.
The first preliminary plat had a one-acre detention pond located up the hill from North Garland McKee to help with stormwater flowing down the mountain. Meadow Sweet residents questioned how a detention pond located further up the hill would help with storm runoff.
The preliminary plat approved July 24 shows a much larger detention pond to be installed behind the three lots and to the south of the lots.
City engineer Chris Brackett with McGoodwin, Williams and Yates firm in Fayetteville said the pond would be seven feet deep. He acknowledged it would not eliminate any possibility of flooding during major storms but would help reduce the flow. The pond will stop water flowing down the mountain and then release it more slowly, Brackett said.
Storm run-off comes down the mountain, goes under Garland McKee Road and then has to take a 90-degree left turn to go into the creek. During heavy rains, water does not make the turn but instead flows over North Garland McKee, flooding Rosebay Lane. Nine houses flooded on Rosebay Lane during a major storm in late April.
An agreement in principle was reached during a meeting with Mayor Ernie Penn, city Business Manager Melissa McCarville, Brackett and Tom Sims with Lots 101.
As part of the conversation, Sims agreed to donate the seven-acre detention pond to the city and the city would be responsible for maintaining the pond.
In exchange for the land donation, the city would waive street improvements for curb and gutter on North Garland McKee in front of the houses and allow Sims to install a gravel drive going up the hill to provide access to his agricultural lots.
Brackett recommended the Planning Commission approve the preliminary plat under the condition a final written agreement is made between the city and Sims on building the pond.
“If they don’t come to a conclusion, they don’t get the subdivision,” Brackett said.
Several property owners from Meadow Sweet subdivision attended last week’s meeting with questions about the latest preliminary plat.
Russell Pease of 11047 Rosebay Lane told commissioners he sustained $42,000 in damages from flooding that occurred in April.
“It’s the worst flood I’ve seen. We had hogs, dogs and logs coming at us. It was a really bad flood,” Pease said.
Pease said he was glad to see a detention pond would be built and had advocated for one in the past.
At the meeting, it was indicated the city would pay for most of the cost to install the detention pond and Pease said he was “a little surprised” the city would pick up the costs.
“It’s not unusual to ask a builder to pay for the detention pond,” Pease said.
Brackett responded it made sense for the city to pay most of the costs because the detention pond is much larger than what would be required for just Hillside Estates.
McCarville also pointed out the detention pond is a regional one that will serve Meadow Sweet residents.
“If it only served the (Hillside Estates) subdivision, we would not pay for it,” McCarville said.
McCarville said details for an agreement will have to be worked out to decide how the detention pond will be built and who will pay for what. The Farmington City Council would have to approve a final agreement, she said.
McCarville noted all of the infrastructure for Hillside Estates, including the detention pond, will have to be in place before the developer can build any houses. This would give the city the opportunity to see how the detention pond works during heavy rains.
Once the infrastructure is in place, Hillside would submit its final plat for approval to begin building houses.
Commissioner Jay Moore asked several questions of Joe Orr with Blew & Associates, engineers for the Hillside development. Moore said he wanted to make sure the detention pond would help residents in Meadow Sweet.
“I know if we don’t do anything (flooding) is going to happen again,” Moore said. “We have to do something. I want to do it because I think it will help you guys.”
In response to another question, Orr assured Moore there were not any plans to try to build a subdivision further up the hill.