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Neighbors push back on 59-home Hewitt Road subdivision; council tables decision to verify notices and drainage
Summary
Developer Chad Stevens sought approval for a 59-lot subdivision off Phoenix Square and Hewitt Road; residents raised traffic, safety and notification concerns and asked for more outreach. The developer and staff agreed to defer while the city verifies notice mailings and drainage-district review.
A proposed 59-home subdivision at 610 Hewitt Road drew heavy public opposition on Jan. 27, prompting the Hammond City Council to table the item so staff and the applicant can provide additional information.
Chad Stevens of MR Engineering told the council the plat meets the city’s subdivision requirements, including two points of access (Phoenix Square and Hewitt), drainage study clearance by Spangler Engineering and sewer capacity confirmation. “This meets all the requirements of your ordinance, and we are asking for your approval tonight,” Stevens said.
Residents who live along Hewitt Road and Phoenix Square said the area already experiences significant speeding, traffic congestion and safety risks. Brenda Longino said she “can barely back out of my driveway” and worried about more traffic near where children play. Megan Frady Bordelon recounted a 2019 crash in front of her home and said recent bills and neighborhood conditions had left residents concerned about more development.
Speakers also said many neighbors had not received timely notice of the proposal. Several residents urged the council to notify entire blocks rather than only adjacent property owners, citing confusion from multiple simultaneous subdivision notices in the area. Council staff and the developer’s attorney said notices were sent for the first planning commission meeting and that some later notices on other proposals may have generated confusion; the developer offered to defer to the next regularly scheduled council meeting so staff can verify which mailings were sent.
The council’s administration and planning staff agreed that the drainage district needs to be consulted about a numbered lateral that runs near the parcels. After public comment and a request from the developer to defer pending verification, the council voted to table the subdivision so the city can confirm notice mailings and finish drainage-district review. The item will return to a future meeting with follow-up from planning staff.
What’s next: The council tabled the final decision to allow staff to verify notices and coordinate with the drainage district; the applicant asked that the item be placed back on the agenda after those steps are complete.
