Residents press county over repeated flooding in 7 Oaks; seek forum for opposing adjacent plat

Residents from 7 Oaks Subdivision brought repeated flooding and stormwater concerns to the Hamblin County Planning Commission during public comment on Oct. 6, saying erosion, blocked culverts and property damage have lasted years and asking for expedited repairs.

Leo Shalute, who said he lives in 7 Oaks at 5665 Chestnut Oak Drive, told commissioners his home has flooded “probably our twelfth flooding” and that recent events left black mold in a bedroom and structural damage to a deck and floors. He said the county’s road commission had told him it planned to replace a culvert, raise and clean curbs, but he said no work had occurred: “I just want the county to become Nike and just do it. Let's get it done,” he said.

Several other residents from 7 Oaks attended and asked specifically about a plat listed on the meeting agenda, identified in public comments as the 1490 Collins and Farm Road plat. Resident Steve Curiazas asked where and when the plat would be presented and where opponents could air legal objections. Planning staff told Curiazas that the planning commission’s role when reviewing plats is administrative—checking that submitted plans meet building-code criteria—and that formal legal arguments about property lines or challenges to development approvals would be handled through other legal avenues, not at the commission’s plat checklist review.

Commission chair and staff repeatedly advised residents that the planning commission evaluates plats for compliance with adopted code standards and that objections concerning property rights, boundary disputes or legal standing would be pursued through the courts or other forums. Planning staff confirmed the commission received the residents’ packet of information but said the commission does not open the floor for litigation-style debate during plat approval.

The commission later considered a final plat called Barnstone Subdivision (1490 Conson Ford Road on the agenda), received a report that soils work and TDEC review had recently occurred, and approved the plat contingent on obtaining a missing soil-signature page before final recording. The commission’s clerk was directed to ensure the signature page from the soils reviewer is added to the file before recording.

Ending: Residents were told where to file formal objections and that planning staff would forward matters outside the commission’s administrative scope to appropriate departments; the Barnstone plat received conditional approval pending a signed soils page.