Residents press council on chronic neighborhood flooding; business owner seeks storage-unit zoning exception

Three residents and one business owner spoke during the public-presentation period at the Sept. 17 West Haven City Council meeting, raising chronic neighborhood flooding and requesting relief, and asking for a zoning exception related to storage-unit rules.

Brett Hogan, owner of King Seating and Cooling, told the council his property on 1900 West is a roughly five-and-a-half-acre parcel surrounded by industrial uses and two storefronts. Hogan said retail tenants avoid space set back far from the street and that he receives frequent inquiries about storage units. He asked the council to consider an exemption to an 800-foot setback requirement along that corridor and told the council the site "is completely surrounded by industrial area" and "would be filled very quickly" if allowed. A staff member (unnamed) explained the city code requires storage units along the 1900 West corridor to be set back not less than 800 feet from the street centerline.

Two neighbors from the Colby Creek / Mountain View Junior High area described repeated flooding tied to recent neighborhood development. DeMarco Armstrong said he and his neighbors have seen worsening flooding over about six to seven years and asked the council to press developers to keep drainage promises. Cassie Folkman said her yard became a "lake" during a recent storm and that neighbors have spent thousands of dollars on pumps and grading. Folkman said lots behind her were raised with clay and that stormwater infrastructure appears clogged or undersized. She asked the council for an independent drainage study, upgrades to storm drains and pipes, and assistance requiring the developer (identified in discussion as Ivory Homes in some comments) to address drainage.

Mayor Rob Vanderwood said staff would look into the issues and asked the administration to investigate whether the city had previously inspected the subdivision drainage. City staff and council members noted prior ordinances related to developer drainage standards and said that where infrastructure has not yet been accepted by the city, developers remain responsible for completion and correction. Public-works and legal staff explained that the city does not accept infrastructure as public until it meets approved plans and that the city can require contractors to fix deficiencies before accepting improvements.

Council did not take formal action at the meeting; staff agreed to follow up and investigate the reported drainage problems and whether further inspections, repairs or enforcement are warranted. An email from Jason Burbarg (spelled as in record) was also received and entered into the minutes on the same issue.

Speakers asked the council to prioritize accountability for developer drainage work so future neighborhoods do not face similar recurring flooding.