Residents urge study of drainage and traffic before approval of Theodore Highlands Estates phase

Two residents of Browder Drive told the Mobile County Commission on Aug. 11 that recent construction tied to the Theodore Highlands Estates subdivision has increased flooding and raised safety concerns, and they asked the county to require more studies before new phases move forward.

James David Olson, who said he lives at 6845 Browder Drive and owns the lot adjacent to the planned phase, said construction across his property began without silt fencing or erosion controls in place. He said runoff backed up past the end of his driveway, that a neighboring 93‑year‑old resident’s yard flooded and that heavy construction traffic threatens to damage Browder Drive. “I’d like to see a major environmental impact study with the drainage going out towards Fowl River tributary,” Olson said.

Brandy McLaughlin, who said she lives at 6775 Browder Drive, told commissioners her yard floods after three days of rain and that a retention pond behind the houses may be contributing. She asked whether the development will include additional lighting, sidewalks or drainage work and expressed concern about traffic near Nan Gray Davis Elementary and Theodore High School.

Commission staff and a commissioner responded that a traffic study and certified drainage report were on file. Tim, the county subdivision official who oversees residential and commercial subdivision review, said a traffic study had been done for the development and that, based on existing speed and volume, the county did not identify a need for additional turn lanes or access changes. Brad Whitman, who addressed traffic questions, said the two existing access points for the subdivision provided sufficient distribution of morning traffic for current standards.

Tim also said the subdivision’s grading and drainage plans have been certified by a professional engineer and that a full drainage report is available for review at the county office. He invited residents to meet after the meeting to review the certified plans and the drainage report. A county commissioner told the speakers the county would continue construction oversight and that the county has issued stop‑work orders in the past when problems occurred.

The agenda listed the Theodore Highlands Estates eleventh edition as agenda item 43. The commission approved the proposed plat during the meeting by motion and second; the transcript records the action as approved with a motion and a second but does not name who moved or seconded the approval.

Because the subdivision met the statutory requirements the county enforces, a commissioner said the commission’s legal options to deny the plat are limited and that rejecting plats that meet legal standards can expose the county to litigation. However, the commissioner said staff would continue to monitor construction and invited residents to contact county staff with issues so field inspections could be scheduled.

The residents asked the commission to consider additional police or volunteer fire coverage for the area; commissioners and staff noted those service decisions involve several agencies and providers and that infrastructure and emergency‑service capacity were recurring concerns raised by West Mobile residents as development expanded.

For residents who want to review documents, county staff said certified construction and drainage plans are available on the sixth floor of the county building and staff offered to schedule site visits.

Ending: The commission moved forward with the proposed plat after the public comments; county staff said they would meet individually with the residents to review engineering documentation and inspect the site if new issues were reported to the county.