Residents tell council Westwood Estates infrastructure and drainage problems are creating health and safety issues

Residents of Westwood/Hometown America mobile-home community told the council of ongoing drainage, flooding and habitability problems they say the park owner has not addressed.

Kathy Phillips of 9 Milton Lane and other speakers described yards between Torch Lane and Cheryl Lane prone to standing water and mosquito breeding, structural settlement in homes, plumbing and septic concerns, and disputed maintenance and permit practices by the park owner. Several residents said they fear retaliation and have hesitated to file formal complaints. One resident, Jonathan Longo of 21 Torch Lane, said standing water regularly reaches depths that interfere with vehicle and pedestrian access and forces residents to pay for repeated mosquito abatement.

Town staff and the solicitor said some disputes between homeowners and the park owner may be civil matters dependent on lease or occupancy agreements and therefore outside direct town enforcement. Planning staff said future development proposals would be held to current stormwater and design standards, and that new projects would be required to demonstrate mitigation of impacts. Solicitor and planning staff recommended residents document complaints and legal counsel separately while the town can review whether any regulatory or inspection gaps exist. Council members encouraged residents to continue reporting issues and to work with state legislators who have been briefed by residents on the problem.

Council and staff committed to accepting residents' documentation into the official record and to consulting relevant state agencies about enforcement options; they also advised residents that some remedies will require private legal action or legislative changes, and that the council would investigate whether any town inspections or permitting steps were bypassed in recent park work.