Friday, March 1, 2002
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Friday, March 1, 2002 |
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Resident wants his yard fixed By JOHN
THOMPSON Steve Hardin wants his backyard back. For over a year, the Senoia resident has complained that runoff and sediment from the new development on Rockaway Road, Hutchinson's Cove, is washing away his yard. Last week, Hardin took his complaint to the City Council, who agreed that something should be done and voted to hold any future building permits until the developer answers questions about his retention pond. City attorney Drew Whalen told the council the issue was really between the developer and the homeowner, but the council wanted to see something done about the situation. "I just think I've been taken advantage of as a citizen of Senoia," Hardin said. City administrator Murray McAfee said the problem is the drain in the retention pond, which has turned into a sediment pond, is clogged, and is allowing massive amounts of water to rush over Hardin's property. McAfee suggested a pipe be placed from the development through Hardin's property to drain the water, but Hardin didn't like that idea. "Why do I have to make the sacrifices? Why can't they run a pipe and drain the water on the road?" he said. Councilman Robert Belisle wondered why this problem wasn't addressed earlier. Whalen said a developer has to submit a plan for water runoff to the EPD, but the EPD does really not have an enforcement agency in place to make sure the plan is followed. Belisle suggested the city would have a remedy to the situation if the pond was placed in the area reserved for a buffer. McAfee said he would examine the subdivision's plans and see if the developer had left sufficient buffer area. In the meantime, Hardin will continue to make videos of his property being washed away by the erosion. "We wanted to have a swimming pool in the backyard. It doesn't look like that's going to happen now," he said.
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