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MRA says it will meet town stormwater code, offers neighbor commitment to 2-year standard
Summary
MRA told the commission it will submit a stormwater management plan with the building permit and meet Montreat's stormwater ordinance (1-year standard); the applicant said it is "prepared to make that 2 year standard" a commitment to neighboring property owners as part of separate agreements.
The Montreat Retreat Association told the Planning & Zoning Commission that, as required, it will meet the townstormwater ordinance in its building-permit submission, but said engineering work suggests the project can be designed to accommodate a two-year storm event and that MRA is prepared to commit to such an enhanced standard in negotiated agreements with neighbors.
"Accordingly, we are prepared to make that 2 year standard enhanced level of stormwater management a commitment as part of our agreement with neighbors," Richard DuBose said, noting that the PUD application itself requests regulatory conformance to the town code and that the applicant believes a separate neighbor agreement is the appropriate mechanism to memorialize a higher standard.
Commissioners and residents pressed for clarity on whether the commission can or should require standards above the adopted ordinance. The applicant answered that it opposes imposing requirements that exceed the town's adopted ordinance as a condition of approval, calling it a potential bad precedent, but offered the neighbor commitment to demonstrate good-faith mitigation of downstream impacts.
Why it matters: stormwater design determines how runoff from the sizable new lodge and associated site work will be managed; a higher design standard changes required infrastructure, potential underground footprint and may affect tree protection and other site constraints.
What the commission asked for: staff and commissioners requested clear engineering documentation in the building-permit submittal showing the proposed system, the area of additional footprint (if any) for upgraded storage, and how any larger underground storage would affect nearby mature trees and construction disturbance.
