Adams County postpones decision on Lake Mason shed to allow Land and Water review

An Adams County panel on Wednesday voted to postpone consideration of a special-exception request to place an accessory building across the road from a house at 164 Golden Drive near Mason Lake, sending the case to the Adams County Department of Land and Water for a site inspection and recommendations.

The applicant is seeking permission to build a 30-by-40 accessory building on a parcel across the road from the house (parcel referenced in materials as 22-793). The board opened the public hearing after staff said the town of New Haven had not objected and had suggested a deed restriction tying the parcel to the house.

Neighbors raised stormwater and flooding concerns during public comment. "It causes a flooding," said neighbor Andre Yakovski, who identified his property as 165 Golden Drive and said he has video from past events. He told the board the drainage ditch and culvert under the road concentrate flow and in prior events produced spillover across properties. "I think the spillage was about 300 feet wide," Yakovski said.

The applicant, who said the existing garage and storage are full and cited age and mobility as reasons for wanting closer storage for a pontoon boat and trailer, told the board the proposed site is the highest, driest spot on the lot despite being in the mapped floodplain. The applicant also said the existing small shed (about 12-by-24) will be removed and that the new structure would ease commutes for storing a boat.

Brooke Cooper, speaking on behalf of her father, Andre, said she did not oppose the building itself but asked whether the county could help mitigate repeated runoff that crests over the road and threatens nearby properties. "There's a good chance my husband and I will be buying the property from him and my mom over the next few years," Cooper said, and she urged the board to consider mitigation options.

Board members discussed the limits of the county's authority. Members noted that town roads and culverts are under town responsibility; Adams County Land and Water can inspect and recommend fixes but cannot compel the town to alter its drainage infrastructure. The board also discussed local drainage boards and the permitting implications of ditching or other fixes, which could require state DNR involvement.

One board member moved to postpone the decision for one month and ask the homeowner to coordinate with the town and the Adams County Department of Land and Water to gather evidence (including the videos the neighbors offered) and recommend mitigation measures; another member seconded. "I make a motion that we postpone this for one month and ask the homeowner to get with the town and have the Adams County Department of Land and Water look at this and see if they have any recommendations regarding this situation," the member said.

The motion passed 2-1. Board member Bruce recorded a "yes" vote; an opposing member said they would vote no. Staff said Land and Water staff (to be Colton or Tyler, as named in the meeting) will contact the homeowner to arrange an inspection and review the video evidence. The item will return at the board's first Wednesday meeting next month for a decision.

The board also noted that the parcel and neighboring houses are within a mapped floodplain around Mason Lake and that, reportedly, Mason Lake has no established base flood elevation; members said that fact complicates evaluations of high-water impacts. The town of New Haven had told the county it would monitor the area but, as board members emphasized, monitoring does not by itself create an enforceable mitigation requirement on the town.

The board adjourned the meeting and set the item to be heard again at its next regular meeting after Land and Water completes its site visit and report.