Howard County Drainage Board approves subdivision connections, sets hearings and fields neighbor concern over culvert

The Howard County Drainage Board met in public session to consider multiple subdivision drainage requests, approving several connection requests and scheduling a new public hearing while staff said driveway and culvert details would be handled through permit review.

Brian Pierce of 40th Parallel Surveying described the first item, Road Subdivision, as “a 2 lot subdivision encompassing 1.76 acres gross, and Lot 1 encompasses the existing improvements,” and said the perimeter drain will tie into a field tile to the east. Staff clarified that although two-lot subdivisions often trigger a stormwater (SWIP) permit at one acre of disturbance, this project does not create an acre of new disturbance because one lot is already developed; the board voted to approve the subdivision connection.

At the Faiella Estates public hearing the applicant requested permission to connect a new perimeter tile into the West Hockstetler regulated drain for a parcel the presenter described as about 3.5 acres. Neighbor Tom Chopp, who identified himself as living at 4692 East 50 North, asked whether the applicant’s planned driveway might block a natural drain across his property. "If he moves that driveway over there, it isn't gonna be blocking the…