Planning commission approves preliminary plat for 52 lots

The Shelby County Planning Commission tonight approved a preliminary plat for The Village at Highland Lakes, Phase 4 Fifth Sector. The case had been continued from the planning commission’s April 3 meeting due to drainage concerns expressed by neighboring property owners.

Residents previously said they were concerned about drainage from the new development into the Highland Lakes area, toward Bluestone Lake.

The 22.44-acre plot would be subdivided into 52 residential lots, and the proposal meets subdivision requirements, said Principal Planner Kristine Goddard, and there have been no changes to the plan since its first submittal.

“It does meet with the master plan that was approved in January of this year,” Goddard said.

Staff visited the area on multiple dates throughout the last few weeks — including April 7, 20 and 27 and May 1 — to take photos of drainage, Goddard said.

“Site visits were conducted the day after the meeting. Charles [Wright, land development inspector] went out two more times to meet with residents, to meet with the site engineers, to meet with Eddleman Properties,” Goddard said.

Goddard showed some photos during the planning commission meeting, noting silt fences that were up as well as the addition of flocculant logs. Flocculants are a method of sediment control.

The flocculant logs were a recent addition to the development site, said Scott Vaughn with Arrington Engineering, and help the clay settle out. The other drainage management materials were already in place, he said. While showing pictures to the planning commission, Goddard noted that water was clearer after going through the barriers set up to control erosion and sediment.

“It hits the additional flocculants and then comes out relatively clear, which is what it’s supposed to be doing,” Goddard said.

During the April 3 meeting, Highland Lakes residents voiced concerns on standing water and a muddy stream that flowed through their backyards, asking if the planning commission could delay their vote until more engineers could look at the property. Planning commission chairman Michael O’Kelley asked representatives from Eddleman, the developer, how mud and runoff was mitigated and other planning commissioners asked if residents had contacted their homeowners association about the issue.

Goddard also showed the planning commission a map of three lots in the phase 4, fifth sector, reminding them that those lots will be used as a sediment pond during construction of other homes in the sector.

Commissioner Bill Kinnebrew motioned in favor of the case, and commended Eddleman on how they handled the case. Six planning commissioners voted in favor of approval, with Bob Land abstaining from the vote.

“This is a good example, I think, of a case that went well,” O’Kelley said. “Good community involvement four weeks ago, y’all responded, you did what you said you were going to do, and it all went very well.”

The planning commission also approved a request from James R. Wallace, regarding the resubdivision of a property on Highway 43. This case was also continued from the April 3 meeting, due to notes that the property did not meet requirements. At this meeting, the property met the necessary requirements and was unanimously approved by the planning commission.

The next planning commission meeting will be May 15.