Planning staff opened a public hearing on an amendment to the Waterford preliminary plat that would move a portion of the currently planned phase 4 work into phase 5 to accommodate irrigation‑season constraints. Roberta (planning staff) told the council the change affects phasing only, not lot counts or design, and that planning and zoning had recommended approval because the modification would not cause substantial impacts.

Developer representative Stephanie Hopkins said the requested shift is driven by irrigation season timing: the irrigation diversion and a large culvert/ditch that crosses the site must be done during the off season. Hopkins said phase‑4 construction plans are under review, phase‑3 construction is nearly complete, and moving the work into phase 5 is intended to avoid working in flowing irrigation conditions.

Neighbor Bruce Dane testified that water historically flowed across his property through a feed line routed into phase 5, but that recent construction activity has “constantly been flooding on my property ever since.” He said he had attempted to contact the developer and the ditch/irrigation company without resolution, and he told council staff that he did not receive a neighborhood meeting notice required by code. Dane urged the council to send the application back to the applicant so the required neighborhood meeting occurs and the drainage problem is fixed before the phasing change is approved.

The developer’s representative said there may have been miscommunications, that engineering and irrigation district approvals would be required for any final construction‑plan changes, and that modifying the phasing now could delay overall work rather than accelerate it. Planning staff and the city attorney confirmed the city can terminate a preliminary plat if conditions persist and that the new owner would still be bound by entitlements.

After discussion about the missing neighborhood meeting notice, the irrigation district’s involvement and a request that the irrigation district confirm repairs to specifications, the council voted unanimously to continue (table) the hearing to the Feb. 4 council meeting and directed the applicant and the affected landowner to confer and return with evidence the drainage issue has been addressed and that the neighborhood meeting requirement has been met. The council asked that any follow‑up include irrigation‑district confirmation where applicable.

The public hearing was closed for tonight; the council scheduled the continuation to the Feb. 4 meeting so the matter can be reconsidered with any new information or agreed remedies.