Madison Heights preliminary plat tabled after neighbor warns of creek, wetlands and driveway flooding

The Lee County Commission tabled preliminary plat consideration for Madison Heights Phase 2 after a nearby homeowner detailed flooding and wetlands concerns and asked for further review.

Planning staff described the project as an 11-lot subdivision on about 10.5 acres in the Smith Station area and said the developer must provide a hydrology/stormwater report and comply with wetland and permitting requirements. "Wetlands are regulated by the Corps of Engineers," planning staff said, and any wetlands disturbed would require mitigation and the appropriate Corps permits.

Nearby property owner Pat Ferlidi said his house sits low on the parcel and that a creek running through his property already reaches knee-high; he worried a detention pond or other re-routing could back water onto his driveway. "I'm very worried about washing out my driveway because my house is in the back of the property," Ferlidi said. He asked commissioners to delay action so staff and developers could meet with him and examine plans.

Commissioner Jeff Drury moved to table the preliminary plat until staff could meet on-site with the property owner and bring back additional information; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. Drury said he would set up a follow-up meeting with staff and the property owner after the meeting.

Planning staff told the commission the developer would need to submit stormwater calculations and a detention plan designed so post-development discharge rates do not exceed predevelopment runoff rates; staff said detention ponds or routing to an existing pond are typical solutions but that the precise design would be part of the engineering filings.