Homeowners ask county to review drainage easements after builder disclosures omitted restrictions

Multiple Saddle Ridge homeowners described a pattern of missing disclosure pages, private and public drainage easements carved onto lot side yards, and inconsistent closing maps that failed to disclose building restrictions. Residents said fences, sheds and pools were installed in good faith or with permits and that they now face citations and the prospect of moving fences or removing structures that cost thousands of dollars.

Speakers asserted that Lennar provided partial deed packets at closing—omitting pages that included easement restrictions and arbitration clauses—and that realtors and title companies did not make the restrictions clear. Several homeowners presented photographs and plot maps showing measured easement widths as little as 5–10 feet in places, leaving minimal usable backyard. One speaker said his pool was permitted and inspected; later the homeowner received a violation requiring fence relocation that would put the fence a foot from the water’s edge and possibly compromise pool safety and structure.

Commissioners expressed concern at the apparent failures and directed engineering staff to examine public drainage easement mappings and report back with options to ease homeowner impact. They also signaled that code-enforcement would pause citing residents relating to the public drainage easements while staff investigates. County attorneys and staff noted private-easement and HOA issues are primarily civil matters; the board requested staff to identify where county infrastructure actually requires access and to seek remedies that avoid forcing homeowners to dismantle pools or move fences when avoidable.

Staff committed to engineering review and to bring options for relief or remediation back to the board, while commissioners said they would work to prevent immediate enforcement that would compound homeowner harm.