The Opelika Planning Commission reviewed a preliminary plat for the Brookhaven townhouse subdivision on Cunningham Drive and heard multiple residents raise concerns about wetlands, a pond dam and a proposed roadway alignment that they say could affect adjacent property.

Neighbors said the project's planned extension and the city's proposed roadway alignment come close to private driveways and homes. “There's a whole lot of wetland and a whole lot of wildlife that's specific to that area,” resident Taylor Britton told the commission, and she urged the city to avoid placing the road near her stepmother's house.

Commission staff described the road alignment as preliminary and said the city and developer will work to limit impacts. Scott Moseley, planning staff, said the city intends to “push as far away from the house as possible” while designing the public roadway and that the road would be constructed on the developer's property or an unopened public right-of-way unless an adjacent owner grants a deeded right-of-way.

Neighbors also asked whether an environmental study had been completed. Josh Mira of Sanford Group, a developer representative, said, “we have had a wetlands and and stream delineation done on the site and environmental study,” and offered to make it available to adjacent property owners.

Lisa Britton, who said her driveway runs in a 30-foot public right-of-way that approaches her house, warned the commission the alignment would affect her property: “It's my driveway,” she said. David Bridal, another neighbor, asked whether an environmental impact study had been done and requested a copy if available. Moseley and the applicant said they would provide the delineation and work with adjacent owners to reduce impacts.

Staff and engineers told the commission that constructing a public roadway on the existing dam will require structural, geotechnical and hydraulic design changes, including widening and outfall improvements, and that any such improvements will be subject to design review. Moseley said the city is still early in the process and is conducting due diligence on the dam and alignment.

The commission considered the preliminary plat and public comments and voted to grant preliminary-plat approval with staff recommendations. The approval was for the subdivision concept; staff said the road design, dam improvements and final alignment will be developed in subsequent engineering plans and separate city infrastructure work.

The record shows the developer will also coordinate with the city on the proposed public roadway; staff emphasized that the city cannot place a public roadway on private property without a signed right-of-way deed from the property owner.

Commissioners closed the discussion after the vote. Staff said they will share the wetlands/stream delineation with adjacent property owners and continue design work for the roadway and dam improvements.