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Meadow Haven residents ask Andover city for help after yards flood; builder proposes trench, residents seek engineering review
Summary
Resident Christy Johnson told the council that backyards along Meadow Haven Street have persistent standing water and damaged turf; she said residents sought but did not receive an engineer’s corrective plan from builder Ron Smith and asked the city for guidance; staff said a site visit occurred and that some remedies may be civil matters but staff will follow up.
During the public‑forum portion of the meeting, resident Christy Johnson described chronic drainage problems affecting multiple backyards along the south side of Meadow Haven Street and asked the city to help resolve the issue.
Johnson said the standing water has made parts of yards unusable, harmed new turf and created mosquito concerns. She said residents approached the developer (Ron Smith and his son/builder Justin Smith) and that the developer planned to dig a trench across back utility easements rather than retain an engineer. "We feel that this might not be the best solution nor would it be most permanent for our properties," Johnson said, and she asked the council for guidance and possible compensation.
Les Mangas, director of community development, said he had met with residents, reviewed the master grading plan and made a site visit. Mangas noted the master grading plan should work on paper but said grades may have been altered over time and that the public‑storm‑sewer connection would require city approval. He also warned that where damage affects a limited number of neighboring lots, the issue may be a civil matter between property owners and developers rather than a routine city maintenance function; staff nonetheless said they would continue discussions and follow up with both residents and the builder.
Council took no formal regulatory action during the meeting but directed staff to continue conversations and investigate whether grading has been modified after final lot grading certificates were issued.
Speakers at the meeting provided signatures and a resident‑collected letter documenting the concerns; Johnson said two neighbors did not sign because of conflicts but that the majority of affected residents had signed the petition she brought to the meeting.
