Kataden Woods Estates approved after DEP stormwater review; neighbor raises runoff concerns

The Raymond Planning Board approved the Kataden Woods Estates final plan on June 10 after hearing a public comment raising runoff concerns and receiving confirmation from the project engineer that DEP (D) reviewed and permitted the stormwater design.

Andy Moral of BH2M, presenting for the applicant, said the project received D review and that the stormwater facilities were designed to meet the town and state requirements. "One of the requirements they hold us to is we need to treat 95% of the impervious area on site," Moral said, adding that the project's stormwater facilities had gone through an exhaustive eight‑month DEP review process.

Neighbor Richard Seagull said runoff from the development would eventually cross Raymond Cape Road and end up on his woodland property and ultimately in Sebago Lake; he said the site looked "very heavily developed" and questioned whether the detention facilities would capture the added runoff. Moral and staff responded that the post‑development runoff rate would be no larger than the pre‑development rate and that the DEP permit required treatment and design measures to meet state standards.

After discussing the stormwater documentation and testimony, a board member moved and the board voted to approve the final plan. The engineer and staff confirmed minor plan changes had been made to meet department comments and that fire chief notes and signage had been added to the plan set. The board accepted DEP's technical review as the controlling stormwater standard for the project.