Hamilton County Drainage Board denies Jackson's Grant window‑well non‑enforcement, approves Ambleside maintenance agreement and several routine items

The Hamilton County Drainage Board on Aug. 25 denied a non‑enforcement request for a basement window well that would encroach into a regulated drain easement in the Jackson's Grant subdivision and approved a package of routine drainage business, including a maintenance agreement for a shared detention pond in Ambleside and a statement of basis for just compensation for a temporary easement on the Anchorage Drain project.

The denial concerned a proposed window well that would extend 3 feet into a 15‑foot regulated drain easement between lots in Jackson's Grant. A drainage board presenter recommended denial, saying, “we are recommending, denial of the non enforcement, for a couple reasons.” The presenter described the easement as an emergency flood route and said the window well is attached to the house foundation, which would make removal impractical if the county needed maintenance access.

John McKenzie, the home builder who addressed the board, said the excavation provided required basement egress and noted site constraints. “We have egress windows there, obviously required for emergency exit,”…