Council approves preliminary plat for 43.31‑acre Beasley Road subdivision after neighbors raise flooding concerns

The City of Statesboro mayor and council on a February meeting approved a preliminary subdivision plat for a 43.31‑acre parcel on Beasley Road that would be divided into 52 single‑family lots. Neighbors who live in the adjacent Bel Air Estates told the council they support reasonable development but said past projects have increased stormwater runoff and flooded homes.

The most direct appeal came from Cole Davis, who told the council the runoff from a nearby development, Bel Air East, contributed to repeated flooding of properties on Teresa Drive last year. “Last year this group greenlit a development on Beasley Road called Bel Air East … resulting in the flooding of five properties on Teresa Drive,” Davis said in public comment. Helen Roscoe, a Georgia Southern professor and Bel Air Estates homeowner, echoed those concerns and asked the city and the developer to clarify what staff commitments—listed in the agenda packet—would be enforceable and who residents should contact if measures fail.

Kathy Field, the city’s director of planning, presented the preliminary plat and told the council the property is zoned R‑15 and is shown in the future‑land‑use map as a conservation area, but that single‑family large lots are allowed under current zoning. Field said the applicant plans two development phases and that final plat approval must meet recording requirements and all construction must be reviewed and permitted by the city engineering and planning departments. The planning commission recommended approval 6–0 with staff conditions.

City Manager Penny acknowledged residents’ concerns and said staff and the applicant will follow up. Penny identified Kathy Field (planning) and Jason Gould (assistant city manager) as staff contacts and invited the residents to provide contact information so staff could investigate the earlier flooding claims and review drainage history and storm events.

The council approved the preliminary plat subject to standard conditions requiring city review and final plan compliance with Unified Development Code recording requirements and dedication of a 10‑foot right of way where noted. Council members and staff repeatedly said the city’s drainage review requires post‑development runoff to be at or below pre‑development levels and that engineers will review basin‑by‑basin analyses before any construction permits are issued.

The developer, Nathan Brown, attended the meeting. Council members acknowledged his presence and encouraged continued communication between the developer, staff and neighbors as engineering plans are prepared.

The council’s action advances the project to the next stage: the developer must submit final plat and engineering plans demonstrating compliance with city stormwater and UDC standards before any lots may be sold or construction permitted.