Neighbors of proposed subdivision wary of water runoff

The proposed builder of 39 single-family homes in East Brainerd heard the pent- up frustrations of neighbors Monday afternoon over water run-off and flooding issues in the area.

During Monday’s planning commission meeting, Billy McCoy, owner of McCoy Homes, asked the advisory body to vote in favor of rezoning a 10.5-acre tract of agricultural property at 3015 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road from agricultural to low-density residential use.

Under agricultural zoning, McCoy could build 21 homes on the site. McCoy’s plan calls for 39 homes, however.

During discussion of the project, neighbors of the proposed new housing development approached planning commissioners and aired frustrations with existing flooding problems in the area, and with concerns that adding new homes and streets would exacerbate the problem.

Michael Hafner, whose nearly five acres touches the proposed new subdivision, said Monday that “other than the loss of privacy, my major concern is the amount of runoff that happens currently.”

He said high water at times “isolates us in our house.”

“Putting that many houses upstream from our driveway, it’s going to make our problem worse,” Hafner said. “Putting that much pavement and houses in there, it could increase every time it rains.”

McCoy’s proposed 39- home project is surrounded by other singlefamily subdivisions and a church. And other locals said right now, there is a lot of water runoff from the Hidden Lakes subdivision nearby.

Sandy Bowen said at times, water runoff is so bad at her house that she can’t get in and out of her driveway.

“All I know is my house isn’t a $300,000 home, but it’s still my home and I feel like I deserve to have my property protected as well.”

Sherry Miller said had she knows how bad the area floods, she never would have moved there in the first place.

“Sometimes when it storms in the summertime, I have fish in my front yard coming from Hidden Lakes,” she said. “This is a huge issue.”

McCoy said it was the first time he had heard the frustrations and runoff concerns from residents of the area.

David Mathews, planning commissioner, told the locals that McCoy’s project could actually help their situation because under storm water regulations, he would have to retain 80 percent of runoff on the property, where the vacant land now has no such requirement.

Todd Leamon, Hamilton County public works administrator and county engineer, said the same.

“There is a potential that it becomes a better situation based on how much water it detains,” he said.

Leamon said of the 39 lots McCoy proposes, “there will probably be one or two of those lots that will not be a buildable lot.”

Planning commissioners voted to go ahead and recommend county commissioners approve the project next month.

And Ethan Collier, planning commission chairman, said the issue of water runoff will be addressed as McCoy’s project goes through subdivision approval.

Contact staff writer Alex Green at agreen@ timesfreepress.com or 423757-6480.