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Local News
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Condo project causes runoff concerns
By Jen McCoy
The developer building the Portage Highlands condominiums will correct
a problem with water runoff that is affecting some West Conant Street
residents in the next 60 days, according to the company. The
condo project is on West Pleasant Street on the old site of the
hospital, atop the hill from West Conant Street. Several residents have
complained about water runoff in their back yards. Dave
Whitten, of 1025 W. Conant St., dug a small trench in his back yard to
help route the water. He purchased the home in March and said there was
no mention on the house disclosure forms about flooding or erosion. He
said the run-off water from the development project seeped into the
back of his house and saturated the crawl space May 31. "They
had all this water shooting out like a fire hose. For two days I didn't
come down there because it was raining so much and there was all water
and sand (in the crawl space)," Whitten said. He said that the
developers, Central States Inc., did not take the time to properly
install a storm drain that would spill the water away from residences. However,
developers said heavy rain the past few months caused the problems.
Nick Grint, president of Central States, said that there have been
complaints during heavy rainfall, but not during normal conditions.
"We
have been hit with rain that was above and beyond normal. We have done
what was originally designed and approved by the City Council. If you
live at the bottom of a hill, you can't beat gravity," Grint said. He
said there were signs of "significant washouts" prior to the
development. But City Attorney Andy Voigt said the city has not dealt
with any complaints about water run-off from the hilly area in his four
years in his position. City Administrator Larry Plaster said the city met with the developers in June to address the issue. "My
understanding is that the problems with erosion date back to at least
last year. There have been storm water drainage issues for some time,
and we have met with the developers recently on several occasions. We
came to an understanding that the problems are to be corrected by end
of July," Plaster said. Included
in the agreement, Plaster said, is the completion of the storm drainage
between West Pleasant and West Conant streets, an installation of
additional silt fences for erosion control if needed and appropriate
vegetation in all future construction areas. "We
have been involved with the city and resolved the issue. We will
install additional drainage piping that will take place within the next
60 days," Grint said. "I am very pleased to hear that," Whitten said, "but I'll believe it when I see it." The first phase of the development started in 2004 and the second phase started in November 2005 with 50 total units. "When
we met with neighbors they had told us that they had water problems for
years," said Heather Robinson, director of sales and marketing for
Central States Inc. Whitten
said that his house was not in the best condition when he purchased it,
but it did not have water problems. He initially thought the
condominiums would increase property value, Whitten said, but now he
believes it is decreasing the value. Whitten's neighbor, Steve Martinson, of 1021 W. Conant St., said that he was irritated that the water run-off is not controlled. "Me
and poor Dave is where they let the water exit out. We're taking the
brunt of it all. All the gravel is washing toward me. There's a bunch
of gravel in my back yard, and it's made a waterfall out of Dave's
retaining wall," Martinson said. He said that the excess gravel from the site washed on to his back lawn. However, Grint did send workers out to rake the area. jmccoy@capitalnewspapers.com 745-3519
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