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Residents and commissioners target sedimentation at Mulat Bayou, call for tougher land-development code enforcement
Summary
Public commenters said developers have been selling lots one-by-one through multiple LLCs to avoid land-development code requirements, contributing to sedimentation in Mulat Bayou. Commissioners and staff said the county is already working on code changes and enforcement measures.
Sherry Chapman, of Pieridge, told the commission that builders around Mulat Bayou have been selling lots one at a time—often under separate limited liability companies—to avoid land-development code (LDC) thresholds that trigger stricter flood and stormwater requirements.
"By skirting this and putting each house that you build in a different LLC, you kinda go around the back door and don't have to do this," Chapman said during public forum. She urged the county to strengthen the LDC and enforcement to stop what she described as ongoing sedimentation problems in the bayou.
Why it matters: Residents say developers have used corporate structures and sales tactics to avoid triggering LDC provisions that apply when more than a certain amount of development is proposed. Chapman asked the county attorney and planning staff to add stronger enforcement "teeth" to the LDC and to consider halting construction until the bayou is cleared.
Commissioners responded that the county has been aware of long-running sedimentation issues and is working on the LDC. Chairman Smith said sedimentation and orange runoff into Mulat Bayou is not new and cited historical road and grading work that contributes to the condition. He said county crews have been maintaining problem roads for decades.
Commissioner Bobby Burkett acknowledged the issue and said the county planning director was already reviewing changes to address these problems. "We got some things coming up in the LDC, and I just sent some information over to our planning zoning director last Friday that he's looking into that," Burkett said.
The county did not adopt immediate emergency measures at the committee meeting. Commissioners said the LDC task work and code revisions are ongoing and that the county has previously identified the county's own contribution to sedimentation in some areas.
Discussion versus decision: The exchange was public comment and commissioner response; no ordinance changes, moratoria or enforcement actions were approved at the committee meeting. The issue is part of planned LDC revisions and ongoing enforcement work.
Next steps: Residents requested swifter enforcement and tougher LDC language; commissioners said staff would continue drafting code changes and monitor construction activity in the Mulat Bayou area.
