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Boonsboro planner to draft stormwater pond policy; council tables zoning fee change tied to hydraulic-model fee
Summary
Town Planner Drew Bowen will draft a Stormwater Management Pond Policy after the council discussed whether HOAs or the town should maintain ponds; the council also tabled an amendment to the zoning fee schedule after Bowen said WRA quoted a $25,000 fee to use the town's hydraulic model, which the developer would be expected to pay.
Boonsboro’s Town Planner Drew Bowen told councilors on Feb. 10 that the town lacks a written policy stating who is responsible for maintaining stormwater management ponds in developments. Bowen said that, absent an HOA, there is no documented town practice for pond maintenance and proposed drafting a Stormwater Management Pond Policy for review at the February workshop. Public Works Superintendent Greg Huntsberry recounted a recent purchase of a 'trash rack' at the direction of a Washington County inspector, illustrating that the town sometimes must act to meet inspection requirements.
Bowen also described development-related infrastructure issues affecting Route 34. He said the developer interested in the Kueffner Farm site would need to relocate a force main and that WRA quoted a $25,000 fee to use the town’s water and sewer hydraulic model to evaluate impacts — a cost Bowen said would be the developer’s responsibility. Council Member Eric Kitchen moved to table Resolution 2025-01 (an amendment to the zoning fee schedule) until the Boonsboro Municipal Utilities Commission could review the proposal; Assistant Mayor Tony Nally seconded and the motion carried.
Planner Bowen will prepare a formal stormwater pond policy for the February workshop and the Utilities Commission will examine the fee and model-access question in an upcoming meeting. Council did not adopt a mandatory HOA-maintenance rule during the regular meeting; an earlier motion to require HOA responsibility was rescinded so the planner could put a written proposal before the body.
Next steps: Planner to deliver the draft stormwater policy at the February workshop; Utilities Commission to review the hydraulic-model fee and associated developer cost-recovery language.
