Resident Sean Smith and neighbors raise drainage and address concerns for Liberty Hills preliminary plat

Sean Smith, who gave his address as 11089 County Road 289, asked the commission to clarify whether item 5c was a preliminary or final plat and said staff materials contained the wrong address. "Because it says preliminary plat in the summary, but it says requested action is final plat," Smith said, then pressed the commission on stormwater controls, asking, "Where's all that water gonna go when it it does go through and it rains?" He said the proposed phases are at a higher elevation than neighboring lots and that the plat shows no retention pond to handle runoff.

Staff responded that the item is a preliminary plat and that state law constrains what studies the city may require at the preliminary stage; "the flood plain administrator is the engineering department," staff said, and engineering will review the civil/drainage plans after preliminary approval. Matt Moore, representing the master developer, told commissioners the developer will submit required drainage studies and stated, "We cannot increase flow on downstream neighbors," and confirmed engineering review will analyze drainage as part of the civil review.

Smith urged commissioners to either table the item, deny it and let council decide, or ask the developer to revise the plat so drainage concerns and buffer/retention solutions are clearly addressed. Another nearby property owner, Jay Pool, said he hopes to keep farmland near the development and asked that a buffer be provided between intensive housing and existing farmland. The commission did not take final action on item 5c during the public comment segment; staff described the process and sequencing the commission must follow for preliminary plats.

Next steps: engineering staff will review submitted civil and drainage plans as part of the plat review process; concerned residents asked the commission to require clearer drainage solutions before final approvals.