Neighbors press drainage and well concerns as commission grants Lake Hills servitude waiver

The Planning and Zoning Commission approved a waiver Thursday to allow private drainage servitudes in the Lake Hills subdivision plan, after residents raised concerns about site activity and water quality.

During the public-comment portion, Keith Jenneron told the commission he had observed heavy hauling of field dirt onto the Lake Hills site before approvals were final and said a nearby well had experienced multiple boil-water advisories in recent months. "They've been hauling in a lot of field dirt there... there was a boil water... they've had three boil water now in five months," Jenneron said.

Staff responded that any unauthorized work would be investigated by code enforcement and the developer's counsel, Paul Marone, said the drainage features proposed are modest swales and inlets the homeowners association would maintain. Marone told the commission the HOA would be expected to handle upkeep, and that the drainage items were not major infrastructure obligations.

Commissioners voted to approve the waiver with conditions; staff emphasized that final engineering, recorded servitudes and any required utility approvals must be resolved and that work orders will not be issued until outstanding items are satisfied. Staff also acknowledged it would follow up with code enforcement regarding the on-site hauling concerns raised during the meeting.

The waiver delegates maintenance responsibility to the HOA and preserves staff oversight through final plat conditions and required approvals.