Jeff Daniels, a Fleming Island resident, told the Clay County Planning Commission during the meeting’s public comment period that persistent drainage problems behind his Autumn Glen unit affect multiple buildings and that he has been unable to identify who is responsible.

“I moved here about a year ago, and I’ve had a tremendous education on HOAs, CDDs,” Daniels said, telling the commission the berm behind his property and drainage features were altered about four to five years ago. He said county staff and the community development district had told him the area is private property and therefore not the county’s responsibility.

The complaint highlights an unresolved management question for the development. An HOA representative on the record at the meeting recommended that property owners review the development’s governing documents — covenants, conditions and restrictions — to establish responsibility for maintenance. The HOA representative said governing documents for different subdivisions can vary and that, in some cases, developer-owned retention facilities were later recorded as developer property even though residents had been maintaining them.

Daniels said he also contacted the St. Johns River Water Management District; he reported that an agency engineer inspected the features and determined they were in compliance. He said the CDD planned landscaping work on the berm adjacent to his unit and that his master HOA and the CDD each have upcoming meetings to address the issue.

Mary Bridgeman, chair of the Clay County Planning Commission, and other members suggested Daniels contact his county commissioner and noted that an outgoing district commissioner, Mike Sella, serves on the CDD and may be familiar with the subdivision’s operations. The commission’s clerk noted that public comment is limited to three minutes and that minutes are posted on the county website after approval.

Why it matters: unresolved drainage can affect property, safety and maintenance obligations; responsibility split among HOAs, CDDs, developers and county agencies can require records changes or coordination among multiple parties. The commission did not take formal action on the complaint during the meeting.

The commission’s next regularly scheduled meeting was announced as Feb. 4, 2025.