County Commissioners raise drainage and flooding concerns of proposed subdivision
By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
At a Maverick County Commissioners Court special meeting held on Monday, April 14, 2014 at the Maverick County Courthouse, Commissioners Court raised concerns regarding drainage issues of a proposed subdivision, Coronado Estates, near Eidson Road in Maverick County.
The Agenda item was the proposed final plat approval of Coronado Estates Subdivision on behalf of the City of Eagle Pass, Texas.
Eagle Pass Planning Director Bryan Shea presented Commissioners Court with the final plat for this new proposed Subdivision that will have 80 single home lots and two commercial lots.
“It is a 21 acre lot that is to be subdivided into 78 single family lots and two commercial lots, all of the infrastructure have been installed,” said Shea to Commissioners Court. “We have inspected it and it meets the City of Eagle Pass requirements. Eagle Pass City Council is recommending that Commissioners Court approve the final plat,” said Shea.
County Commissioner of Precinct 4 Roberto Ruiz asked if anybody on behalf of Maverick County had checked into all the requisites being dealt with on behest of the County’s interest to its residents especially in the surrounding area of the new proposed subdivision.
Ruiz stated that he had no doubt that everything was done to requirements but that he wanted to also assure that the County had reviewed it as well, addressing any concerns before approving the final plat of the proposed subdivision. “We just want to make sure that we have the green light on our angle,” said Commissioner Ruiz.
Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo concurred with the concern raised by Commissioners Court. Judge Saucedo asked certain questions regarding the engineering aspect of the proposed subdivision project. Shea answered and addressed the concerns raised by Commissioners Court. “Everything has been inspected and complies with the City’s Codes which are a mirror of your subdivision codes outside of Extra Territorial Jurisdiction,” added Shea.
Ruiz then stated that his concern was “Who in the County is going to say we agree with these findings.” Ruiz’s concern was who in the County had been involved or was present and notified during the procedure of reviewing the proposed subdivision’s infrastructure and drainage issues.
Judge Saucedo raised a concern on how the set-up of that new proposed infrastructure in the new Coronado Estates subdivision would affect the surrounding infrastructure outside of the new subdivision in the County, and if that aspect had been taken into consideration when planning and implementing the infrastructure construction phase of the project.
“ Our regulations require that the infrastructure address the impacts created by the project,” answered Shea. Shea also stated that typically in the review process the applicant provides an engineering report, drainage report, and any other type of report that the city code deems necessary.
Shea also stated that the process goes through a tedious review and inspection and if there are any concerns stemming from the reports by any party involved they are then addressed by the subdivision review team meeting and passed down to the applicant.
Commissioner Gerry Morales asked Shea whether there is a detention pond within Coronado Estates subdivision and where was the water drain system going to flow into. Shea replied that it was to drain into the canal that runs through the surrounding area within the County.
Morales concurred with the concerns raised as to who is looking into the best interests of those County residents living in the surrounding area of the new proposed subdivision.
Judge Saucedo pointed out that the concerns are as a result of the fact that the city or county do not have an engineer on board to assure that all concerns are truly met in the best interests to the developer, community, and the residents in the surrounding areas of new subdivision developments. Shea then stated that when dealing with engineers and architects there is a certain level of ethics that they follow to assure that everything is done according to standards.
Judge Saucedo cited an example of a similar issue in Las Quintas Fronterizas and in the Cedar Ridge area where a commercial establishment was built on Veterans Boulevard which created more problems with water drainage and flooding issues in these areas within the County which was approved by the City of Eagle Pass. Commissioner Morales stated that flooding was reported in that area that had not been an issue before the building of that commercial establishment and that up to now there has not been anything set on how the issue is to be addressed. “ My concern is that I don’t want the same thing to happen in Mr. Ruiz’s precinct,” said Morales.
Judge Saucedo raised another issue with a detention pond that was built close to the outer limits of the City of Eagle Pass that has caused flooding and drainage issues to County subdivisions. Judge Saucedo noted that as new developments are built the County is beginning to see certain issues of concern regarding flooding and drainage issues and are only trying to address them for the residents of Maverick County who may be directly or indirectly affected by the consequences that may come from not touching basis on all issues in and out of the new developments.
After further discussion into the matter addressing the effect that issues such as those spoken of would have on those residents in the surrounding areas of new subdivision development and commercial development.
Commissioners Court requested a more detailed explanation of the drainage report set in place on the proposed Coronado Estates plat approval.
Shea replied that the basic principal on storm water regulations is that drainage needs to be controlled on a pre-development rate, meaning that before a property is developed there is an analysis to assure that the new drainage plan does not hinder existing flooding and drainage systems. The City project engineer presented a more detailed presentation as to the how the drainage system of Coronado Estates was going to operate and satisfy drainage requirements.
After questioning the City project engineer, Commissioners Court unanimously approved the final plat of the Coronado Estates subdivision subject to Maverick County General Counsel Poncho Nevarez’s review.
