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Council approves Ash Avenue resubdivision despite neighbor flooding and tree concerns
Summary
After two neighbors raised flooding and tall-tree safety concerns during a pulled planning item, council approved a variance to resubdivide six parcels into five single-family lots on Ash Avenue 9-0; the applicant said the new owner plans tree removal and redevelopment will meet current stormwater standards.
The City Council on May 19 approved, by a vote of 9 to 0, a developer request to resubdivide six existing parcels into five single-family lots at 125–137 Ash Avenue following public comment from nearby residents about flooding and diminished tree maintenance.
Attorney Eddie Berdun, representing Lighthouse Development LLC, told the council the new owner recently purchased the property and planned to remove several distressed trees. Neighbor Wayne Beagle said the area has long-standing stormwater problems that flood basements and apartment units and urged the city to prioritize engineering fixes. "I've owned my property for 23 years...I have a six-unit apartment. It's flooded my building inside," Beagle said.
Resident Tanya Gatling, who lives directly behind the proposed lots, described mature trees in excess of 100 feet that she said are diseased, overgrown with vines and have fallen in the past year; she asked the developer to remove hazardous trees and to account for neighbor safety during redevelopment.
City staff and council members noted the properties were built before modern stormwater standards and said redevelopment must meet current stormwater regulations. Staff also said the neighborhood's broader drainage work depends on a sequence of capital projects and that some needed infrastructure improvements remain several phases away.
Eddie Berdun told council the owner intends to address the tree concerns during the development process and that the new lots will be built to current standards. After questions and discussion, council voted 9 to 0 to approve the variance and resubdivision application.
