Committee discusses repeated erosion, proposes stormwater mitigation committee and plan-review changes

Committee members described recurring erosion and stormwater problems in parts of the county — including runoff from the Ridgegrass/Hickory Ridge development that they said floods East Main and has damaged a retaining wall behind a local Dollar General store. Members said prior approvals did not adequately prevent downstream sedimentation and that enforcement or plan review was inconsistent across prior building officials.

In response, committee members proposed forming a stormwater mitigation subcommittee (an advisory board) charged with reviewing site plans and drainage for all developments, not just large subdivisions; the subcommittee would include technical representation such as a planner, an engineer, a road/highway representative and a water-department representative, plus staff (Amanda Harrington was identified as existing staff support). Members suggested using an existing draft from Minton Engineering (used by Macon County) as a starting point for local ordinances.

Members discussed how the subcommittee would fit into the approval process: the subcommittee would review drainage mitigation first and provide a favorable or nonfavorable recommendation to planning, so that when a site plan reaches planning the drainage issue would already be resolved. Committee members said the approach could reduce repeat problems, though it would require staff time and some ongoing costs.

Next steps: staff will collect example ordinances (committee member said they already contacted Minton Engineering) and circulate materials prior to the next meeting; members agreed to identify potential appointees and define a process and scope that can be reflected in ordinance language.

Ending: The committee agreed the issue is pressing and to prioritize stormwater ordinance drafting and a follow-up meeting to define committee membership and process.