Hamilton County Drainage Board approves three preliminary floodplain variance requests

The Hamilton County Drainage Board voted unanimously on Aug. 24 to approve three preliminary variance requests to pursue fill within regulated floodplains, directing each application to the county’s third‑party reviewer, Christopher Burke, for technical review.

Sam Clark of the Surveyor’s Office presented the first request for the Vine property project in the Williams Creek regulated drain and told the Board that "this was a preliminary introduction of the project and that, if approved, the request would be submitted to the County’s third‑party reviewer, Christopher Burke." The Board approved that preliminary step and a motion to advance the file to the reviewer.

Separately, Stoeppelwerth & Associates (represented by Brian Brown) outlined the Preserve at Cool Creek Section 2 proposal, which would affect fringe areas of the Cool Creek floodplain to accommodate a detention basin, roads and residential lots; Brown said the developer "proposes to provide a 3:1 compensatory floodplain storage area south of the gas main easement and closer to Cool Creek." The Board asked for complete engineering drawings to accompany the variance package before final approval.

Sam Clark also introduced a preliminary variance requested by Costco Wholesale Corporation for work affecting the Cool Creek Drain; the Board approved forwarding that request for third‑party review as well. Each matter was approved as a preliminary action — final Board approval will follow receipt of a reviewer approval memorandum.