Mount Pleasant approves Sanctuary at Pike River preliminary plat with stormwater conditions after resident concerns

The Village of Mount Pleasant Board of Trustees voted Aug. 25 to approve the Sanctuary at Pike River preliminary subdivision (PSP-25-0001) for the South Green Bay Road area, contingent on staff conditions that require submission and approval of stormwater and sedimentation control plans before final plat approval.

Resident Jennifer Moran urged trustees to delay the plat, saying the parcel is identified as a "priority protection area" in the village plans and that longstanding drainage problems increase the flood risk for neighboring homes. "The village told us that they didn't have a plan for it, but that's not the truth," Moran said, and she asked the board to "Please table this until a water plan is in place." The board heard similar concerns about historic drain tiles and wetlands during public comment.

Village planning staff told trustees the village’s ordinances guide the timing for engineering submissions. "Following approval of the preliminary plat and prior to approval of the final plat, stormwater and sedimentation control plans and specifications shall be submitted for review and approval in accordance with Village Stormwater Management and Erosion and sedimentation control ordinance," Sam, a village planning staff member, told the board, quoting section 74-4.6 of the land division chapter. The planning staff included a condition requiring those plans and said they should reflect recommendations in the Pike River Watershed and Park and Open Space plans, such as native landscaping, wetland restoration where feasible and naturalized detention facilities.

Tony, a village engineering/DPW representative, described typical construction protections for drain tiles and utilities: "If a tile's hit in a utility trench, it's either reconnected if it's water or sanitary or, if possible, connected into a storm sewer. . . those are required by the village to be rerouted around the foundation." Trustees pressed staff on how the between-preliminary-and-final engineering review would protect existing homeowners with basements; staff said civil engineering plans submitted before final plat must meet the village’s stormwater and erosion-control ordinances and could require revisions to the preliminary layout if the engineering shows the proposed layout is not feasible.

Trustee Bhatia moved to approve the preliminary plat "subject to the condition contained within the end notes," referring to the staff packet conditions on stormwater and site design. The motion was seconded and carried on a roll-call vote: Trustee Doxey — aye; Trustee Karas — aye; Trustee Anastasio — aye; Trustee Bhatia — aye; President DeGroote — aye.

The preliminary-plat approval advances the subdivision to the stage where the applicant must submit civil engineering and stormwater plans. If those plans show the layout cannot meet engineering or regulatory requirements, the applicant will be required to revise the plans before the board can approve a final plat.