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Neighbors raise stormwater, traffic and privacy concerns over Water Walk plans
Summary
Residents near the Water Walk development told council they fear increased stormwater runoff, loss of privacy and more rental duplexes. One resident asked for a 50-foot buffer and a 6–8 foot fence adjacent to her property and raised concerns about septic drain-field impacts and driveway placement.
Several residents addressed council to express concerns about a planned Water Walk development, focusing on stormwater runoff, unit types and road access.
Dawn Halterwanger (presented under similar spellings in the transcript) said the lot next to her property on Muscatat Run has a "severe slope," that runoff already floods her yard and that she does not trust developers to control future stormwater. She said the adjacent lot is proposed for duplexes and a fire station and asked council to require a 50-foot buffer and a 6- to 8-foot-high fence to protect her privacy and limit noise. Halterwanger said her house sits downhill from the lot and that she paid more than $30,000 for an engineered septic system; she asked that the town avoid placing an entrance directly opposite new driveways to prevent traffic and to protect her drain field.
"I have stormwater runoff damage from this property," Halterwanger said. "I absolutely do not trust these developers to establish an adequate way to control the wastewater runoff." She invited councilors and staff to inspect the slope and the adjoining parcel.
Staff and councilors acknowledged the concerns and noted the development review process includes stormwater and site-plan reviews. A council member asked who is responsible for clearing fallen trees on vacant lots after an incident where a neighbor had cut a fallen tree that had blocked the road; Halterwanger asked the question to clarify ongoing lot maintenance responsibilities.
The council did not take formal action on the Water Walk concerns at this meeting; Halterwanger said she remains in contact with planning staff for updates and asked for continued attention to buffers, driveway placement and protection of existing septic drain fields.
