The Mobile City Council on Tuesday opened a public hearing on a request to rezone property at 5301 Moffett Road from B-2 to B-3 and heard sustained concern from neighbors about stormwater during construction. Residents said runoff from the site already floods yards and streets and warned construction could worsen the problem unless engineers and inspectors require and enforce robust controls.

The matter is at first reading, and the council did not vote on the rezoning. Council members and staff committed to arranging a meeting that will include residents, the developer and city engineering staff to review drainage plans before any final action is taken.

Neighbors said the issue is not opposition to the building itself but to how stormwater will be managed during site work. “I have no issue with the construction,” said Patrick Howell, a resident of 1516 Sawada Drive. “The only problem I have… is stormwater drainage from this project during the project. Not after it. Not right now.” Howell told the council the water that drains through an existing culvert behind the property already floods his yard and the street several times a year.

Councilman Carroll described the city’s permitting and inspection process for new development, saying drainage is normally retained or detained on site, or conveyed to improved street systems, and that a stormwater protection plan (SWIP) and related erosion controls must be approved before construction begins. “That plan has to also be approved by the architect and engineer of record and also the city before the project can begin,” Carroll said.

Bruce Smith, who identified himself as representing CMG, said the developer does not oppose meeting with neighbors and the city. “We’ll put fail safes up during the BMP process to make sure that we don’t have any runoff or creating issues downstream,” Smith said, and agreed to attend a coordination meeting with residents and staff.

Residents and speakers identified several specifics they want addressed: the project will cover some existing parking inlets (a speaker said two of six parking inlets would be affected), the property slopes 10–12 feet down toward the street over roughly 150 feet, and the proposed building footprint was described in the hearing as roughly 60,000 square feet. Neighbors asked the city to confirm that erosion-control measures and the SWIP will be enforced during construction and asked to be included in preconstruction discussions.

Vice President Gregory and other council members said the first-reading status gives time to set up the requested meeting and, if necessary, to delay the final vote so stakeholders can review mitigation measures. The council clerk was asked to collect contact information from residents so staff can schedule the coordination meeting.

No formal vote on the rezoning was taken; the item remains at first reading pending the meeting between residents, the administration and the developer.

Residents seeking follow-up were instructed to provide contact information to the clerk so city staff can coordinate the meeting and share technical drainage plans and mitigation measures.