Plan Commission approves preliminary plat for Parkside subdivision at 1340 East Forest Hill with conditions after resident concerns about wetlands and drainage

The Oak Creek Plan Commission approved a preliminary subdivision plat for the proposed Parkside subdivision at 1340 East Forest Hill, subject to conditions requiring sidewalk placement, a detailed landscape plan, stormwater and utility coordination and technical corrections.

Staff described the 7.4‑acre site currently used for agriculture, noting a 30‑foot drainage easement that traverses the property, about 0.43 acres of non‑exempt wetland, and a city official map showing a future road. The applicant proposed 17 lots (14 single‑family lots and three outlots for stormwater and access), with lot sizes between roughly 12,000 and 22,000 square feet and a layout centered on an L‑shaped road with a single access from East Forest Hill Avenue. Staff raised concerns about sidewalks (preliminary plat as submitted showed sidewalks on one side only, but city code requires sidewalks where lots abut public right‑of‑way), tree preservation and replacement (removal of five trees would trigger a replacement requirement), and stormwater/groundwater issues: staff and residents noted that a historical drainage ditch and localized high groundwater create ongoing wetness on portions of the site and neighboring properties.

Residents living adjacent to the site provided detailed testimony and photos about chronic standing water, flooded yards and a history of heavy flows through culverts and drainage features. Several residents said they had not been contacted prior to the hearing. The applicant said soil borings show seasonal high groundwater is just below topsoil and that proposed grading and fill would raise finished floor elevations above the seasonal high groundwater; civil engineers said proposed culverts and a redesigned drainage flow path would move the agricultural drainage ditch through contained outlots and culverts to the Oak Creek to the east.

After extended discussion and questions of staff and the applicant, the commission approved the preliminary plat with explicit conditions: sidewalks of at least 5 feet on all sides of lots abutting public streets per Section 17.0504; a detailed landscaping plan including species and locations per Section 14.11 and tree preservation/ replacement requirements; coordination of stormwater management and required permits with the engineering department; utility coordination with Oak Creek Water & Sewer Utilities; and submission of revised electronic plans and required technical corrections prior to permitting. Commissioners and staff emphasized the approval is preliminary; final engineering, stormwater management, development agreement and a stormwater maintenance agreement would be required before construction and final plat recording. Several commissioners and nearby residents asked staff and the applicant to continue active outreach and to ensure the stormwater design does not worsen conditions for neighboring properties.