Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Developer denies causing neighborhood flooding; council seeks engineering review and planning‑board changes
Summary
Developer Armand Cortelleso said he exceeded plan requirements and installed additional drainage for new subdivisions but neighbors say flooding worsened after construction. The council agreed to seek an independent engineering review, consider adding an engineer to the planning board and revise ambiguous language in approval conditions.
Armen (Armand) Cortelleso, appearing under oath, told the Town Council he had met with town staff before construction, installed additional manholes and perforated drain lines, and took steps beyond the minimum required by zoning approvals to contain stormwater on his sites.
"I went beyond what my plan says to do," Cortelleso said, describing extra drainage work and a prior agreement with town staff to complete certain work before issuing building permits.
Neighbors and council members, however, described persistent drainage problems on Knapp and Elliot avenues and said some residents reported worse conditions after the condo project. Council members asked whether conditions in planning approvals — for example a requirement to 'retain 10% of the water' — are measurable or enforceable. Public works director Bernie Salvatore said the 10% phrasing was ambiguous and suggested engineers and clearer permit conditions to avoid open interpretation.
The council voted to refer drainage-language revisions to the ordinance committee, request that the planning board include or consult an engineer going forward, and to have a town‑hired independent engineer (already paid for by the developer in this case) review disputed drainage elements.
Why it matters: Recurring drainage complaints after development raise questions about how planning approvals and engineering conditions are written and enforced. The council's decision to seek independent engineering review and change permit language aims to reduce ambiguity and future disputes.
What happens next: Council referred ordinance changes to the ordinance committee, asked staff to pursue an independent engineering review (already contracted in this instance), and requested clearer, measurable stormwater criteria for planning approvals.
