News

Towne Place developer agrees to drainage work

A developer plans two duplexes on the last remaining vacant lot at Towne Place

By Bill Moss, Published: March 2, 2016

Residents of Towne Place were able to extract a promise of drainage improvements from a developer seeking permission to build the last four units in the development on Greenville Highway.

Park Place Developers LLC is seeking a special-use permit to add two duplex dwellings in the last vacant parcel of the 37-unit development on 6.7 acres. Originally approved 13 years ago for 44 units, the development is complete except for the final four units.
Residents have been split on whether they approve of the buildout but many say that the developer has neglected the stormwater system and caused runoff problems. During a neighborhood compatibility meeting last September, residents raised concerns about stormwater runoff pooling in yards and flooding basements and a lack of maintenance of a drainage pond. They also asked whether heavy construction equipment might damage streets.
In December, city engineer Brent Detwiler sent a letter to the property owner’s agent, an attorney in Lake Worth, Fla., warning him that Park Place Developers was responsible for the maintenance of the stormwater system. A city inspection found numerous deficiencies, he said, and said the developer needed to clear out sediment buildup, remove sediment from filled-up storage basins, stabilize drainage outlets and restore vegetation. City code, Detwiler added, requires the developer to submit an annual inspection report, follow best management practices and maintain the drainage system.
Communications suffered after developer Dan Young died in a car crash, said Larry Winson, who spoke for Park Place and for Jim Ayers, the developer who plans to build the duplexes. “I think these notices were being sent to Mr. Young’s agent in Illinois. It never got to the current manager of the project. We are addressing those now. … We’ll do what needs to be done. Mr. Ayers doesn’t want to buy the lots if he can’t build on them,” Wilson said.
The city Planning Board on Feb. 8 recommended approval of the special-use permit on the condition that the developer fixes the stormwater runoff deficiencies and that the city inspect and OK them before construction starts. The application goes before the City Council on Thursday.