Harmony Manor preliminary plan tabled after council approves some modifications amid residents' water and safety concerns

Residents near the proposed Harmony Manor subdivision told McCandless Town Council on June 22 that the developer’s plan could endanger private wells, increase flooding and harm neighborhood character, prompting a contentious multi-hour review that ended with the council approving some technical waivers but tabling final action on the preliminary plan.

At public comment, residents described the site’s steep terrain and proximity of a proposed detention pond to nearby private wells. “A single test after construction does not protect us long term,” said Mike Canaroy, a property owner downhill from the site, urging a long-term well‑water monitoring program and a clear assignment of responsibility if contamination occurs. Several neighbors said the lot sizes being proposed — some roughly 12,000–13,000 square feet — do not fit the surrounding low‑density pattern of mostly 1‑acre parcels and could lower property values and increase school costs.

Applicant Katrina Hamel of Sheffller & Company described the 8.58‑acre project as 12 lots (one existing home to remain, 11 new single‑family lots), noting that roughly 2.5 acres of stream and wetland would remain protected and that the design relied on geotechnical analysis to justify steeper fill slopes and other site adjustments. Hamel said sidewalks were proposed where feasible and that an on‑site trail would connect the cul‑de‑sac to Potter’s Pond.

Planning staff and the town engineer flagged a set of outstanding technical items — tree removal offsets, stormwater volume calculations and some sanitary‑sewer access questions — that the applicant must address before construction. Town staff also said the conservation district had asked for clearer submittals on erosion controls and that easement or legal authority to access and work in privately owned drive/utility areas must be resolved.

On votes tied to the plan, council members approved modification request #1 (allowing the steeper fill slope with supporting geotechnical documentation) by roll call (six in favor, one opposed), rejected modification request #2 (a requested enlargement of the depth‑to‑width lot ratio — the vote failed, 2 in favor, 4 opposed), and approved modification request #3 (a limited sidewalk waiver along existing private rights of way, with the developer to fund future sidewalks if required) 6–0. Because one requested modification did not pass and several engineering and legal concerns remained, council then voted to table formal approval of the Harmony Manor preliminary plan and asked the applicant to resolve outstanding comments in the town engineer’s June 17 memo and subsequent technical memos before another hearing.

Council members and staff committed to follow up on several resident requests: exploring a more robust well‑monitoring or developer security option, confirming sight‑distance and traffic‑safety mitigations near the Harmony/Woodland intersection, and clarifying long‑term trail and maintenance responsibilities (to be spelled out in HOA or developer documents). The town also said it will have its traffic consultant review current intersection sightlines and recommend safety improvements.

Next steps: the applicant is to address the engineering memos, provide clear legal documentation for any needed access to private drives or utilities, and respond to the conservation district’s comments. The preliminary plan remains tabled pending those changes.