County asks for lower Canary Drain release rate; Whiteland board hears potential local impacts

Town staff briefed the Whiteland Town Stormwater Board on a county recommendation to reduce regulated stormwater release rates in the Canary Drain impact area from 0.3 to 0.2 cubic feet per second (CFM).

Staff said the county surveyor presented the change to the county commissioners and urged member jurisdictions to mirror that lower standard in order to better control flows into Youngs Creek and downstream Franklin, citing historical flooding. The staff presentation mapped the Canary Drain's route and said the change would primarily affect roughly 40 acres south of the Cooper Tire retention pond and a commercial corner at Whiteland Road and Graham. Staff also noted that several logistics developments (Moore Logistics and Patch Development) had previously vacated portions of the legal drain and routed runoff to on-site retention ponds.

Staff raised a procedural question: if the town adopts the lower 0.2 CFM standard, would waivers still be granted by the county for developments that cannot meet the new rate? The county surveyor (Greg Cantwell) was reported to have said waiver decisions would depend on individual development proposals; staff said he could not guarantee waivers. Staff emphasized this is an informational presentation and that the board does not need to decide at this meeting.

Board members briefly discussed the practicality of the change and the funding and time needed for drain improvements. Staff said the county had increased drain fees to raise funds for legal drain maintenance. No ordinance or local policy change was proposed at the meeting, and staff said any town action would be brought forward later if desired.