By
JEFF SCHULTZ
The
Porter Plan Commission was ready to hear plans for new duplexes and
multiplexes at Summer Tree subdivision, but no one showed up to tell them.
Instead, the Commission burned up a half an hour addressing an issue with a
few Summer Tree residents sitting in the audience regarding an overflowing
retention area immediately southwest of the subdivision.
Planner and Porter Public Works Director Brenda Brueckheimer said the pond’s
overflow from the rain these past few days is flooding onto neighbors’
properties to the south , which it hadn’t done when a pump was there to get
the water to the nearby existing manhole.
Brueckhemier inquired as to what happened to the pump and if one could be
put there again to keep the water level from causing property damage.
She
said the pond needs extensive work done such as dredging, trees removed, and
pipes put in.
“The
outlet is completely blocked,” said Brueckheimer. “Water is draining over
the hill in the back corner.”
One
of the audience members Jack Garzella, who is a former chair of the Summer
Tree property owner’s association, said the pond was drained about a month
ago and a baffle was found in one pipe. He agreed that work is needed but
doesn’t think the association has enough funds on hand to cover it all, but
members will work with the town in the effort to get the issues corrected,
starting with the pump.
For
his part, Garzella said he was unaware that there was a problem with the
pond until recently, while Breuckheimer contended neighbors have talked to
her about issues for the past five years or so.
Garzella said he would like to work toward a long-term solution and not just
a temporary fix. He suggested that maybe the new developments being proposed
could help share in the maintenance. “It’s a big expense to us,” he said.
Town
Planner Jim Mandon said he would like to see original design for the pond 20
years ago to see how it had been approved and determine what kind of piping
was used. Brueckheimer said she would like to know if the pipe is standpipe.
Garzella said he would check with the contractor right away about getting
the pump back and would be in contact with Brueckheimer.
Development tabled
By
unanimous vote, the Commission agreed to table the discussion with Fox Chase
Development Group which proposed replatting and subdividing lots 1-4 in
Summer Tree.
The
Group had spoken to the Town’s Technical Advisory Committee in late June
with plans to build duplex homes and add a three-unit house on Lot 25.