Neighbors’ drainage and density worries lead Aberdeen board to reject Johnson Street rezoning

Aberdeen commissioners on Nov. 24 voted to deny a rezoning request for approximately 10.82 acres near Johnson Street that would have changed several R20 parcels to RM6. Applicant Heath Rogers told the board he envisions roughly 48 homes and would seek annexation for water and sewer, but neighbors objected to the proposed density and raised repeated concerns about drainage and low water pressure in existing wells.

Pam Graham, the planning director, explained the site is wooded with partial access constraints and that some parcels would require annexation to receive town services. Rogers and his engineer, Scott Matthews, said an RM6 layout would allow lot sizes in the 6,000–7,000‑square‑foot range and that the project could be financially feasible only with those densities and public utilities.

Multiple residents whose properties back to the site told the board they had not been contacted directly by the developer and expressed frustration with flooding during heavy storms, citing recent events where yards and basements flooded. One resident said the area’s water pressure drops significantly when multiple taps run, and warned that adding dozens of households would stress local water supply without clear capacity upgrades.

After public comment and deliberation the board moved and voted that ZA25‑08 was not consistent with the town’s adopted plans and not reasonable in the public interest; motions to deny carried by close votes. Staff noted a development application could return in a different form, but any subdivision will require TRC technical review and proof of water/sewer capacity before construction permits.