Neighbors fear erosion, water issues at proposed site of 70 new homes in Brighton – Livingston Daily

Land north of Spring Mountain Drive in Brighton is hilly, shown Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. A 70-home development is proposed on the land and neighbors are concerned the new homes will add to existing problems with erosion and flooding.(Photo: Jennifer Timar/Livingston Daily)

Several Brighton residents living next to the site of aproposed 70-home developmentareconcerned about the new homes after experiencing drainage and erosion issues in their neighborhood.

Farmington Hills-based Schafer Development has proposed 70 single-family homes on about 30 acres ofhilly, wooded land between off Flint Road between Interstate 96 and Spring Mountain Drive.It would be called The Bluffs at Spring Hill.

Schafer Development's President, Steven Schafer says he wants to assure neighbors the proposed storm water system and soil grading planswill not only address potential erosion risks but could also potentially improve neighboring residents' situation.

If city officials approve final site plans and a planned unit development agreement, then Pulte Homes will construct the homes. The city's Planning Commission is expected to review final plans and vote on whether to recommend City Council approval in February, but a date has not been set.

Maddalena Fanelli, who lives on Spring Mountain Drive, said she fears The Bluffs at Spring Hill would cause additionaland worsen existingsoil erosion and drainage issues.

Fanelli's home is one of 29 on the street, immediately south of the proposed development.

She said the way grading and storm water management was constructedin her neighborhood caused many problems for homeowners.

"If they go in and compact the land and remove land and trees, what then?" Fanellisaid. "This could be an erosion disaster area."

She pointed out a 1974 Livingston County Soil Survey that identified the hilly, sandy land as a severe erosion hazard. She enumerated her concerns in an October letter she submitted to city officials and Schafer Developmenton behalf of herself and her neighbors.

Court records show properties on Spring Mountain Drive the neighborhood is called Spring Hill have had erosion and drainage problems. Thecityhad to force the builders who constructed Fanelli's neighborhood to address the issues.

In 2014, the City of Brighton filed a lawsuit against Three-T LLC, Surgrady & AssociatesLLC, and Surdu Development Group Inc.

The city's lawsuit claimed the developers were out of compliance with a county ordinance on soil erosion and sediment control. It listed a variety of problems residents of Spring Hillwere experiencing.It also claimed work to bring the site into a safe condition caused "substantial deviations" from the city-approved site plan.

Residents on Spring Mountain Drive in Brighton, shown Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020, live south of a a 70-home development that is proposed on the land. Neighbors are concerned the new homes will add to existing problems with erosion and flooding.(Photo: Jennifer Timar/Livingston Daily)

The Livingston County Drain Commission performed several inspections in the neighborhood and discovered multiple problems caused by the way Spring Hill builders developed the land.

For instance, in 2014,drain commission inspectors discovered unstable ground along the edge of a basin that caused a sinkhole to form, according to court records. They also found sediment accumulation and numerous other problems.

Other issues found onSpring Mountain Drive included washed out slopes, eroded rock retaining walls, and water draining toward at least one home's foundation due to steep slopes.

In August2014,Livingston County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty ordered Spring Hill builders to immediately remediate the issues or prevent access to problem areas.

A 2015 consent judgement signed by Hatty established the conditions of a new, amended site plan and compelled Spring Hill builders to bring the development into compliance with the plan and address erosion and grading issues.

Nancy Durance, who lives on Spring Mountain Drive, was impacted.

"When they put in landscaping, it fell down the hill," Durance said. "When they tried putting the sod in, the grass wouldn't adhere to the soil. The soil wasn't staying because the angle of the land was such that even the soil was washing away. When there is water or rain, all of that runs down hill, a rock wall in back actually deteriorated."

She said she is skeptical the proposed The Bluffs at Spring Hill won't cause similar issues.

"Don't you remember, we have this issue, it's the same soil, the same hill, so are we going to end up with the same issues?" she said.

"We've engaged the right professionals, soil engineers, and we've been ensured that it's not a concern," Schafer said.

Schafer said the proposed storm water system for The Bluffs at Spring Hillis expected to capture a lot of the water currently flowing towardSpring Mountain Drive.

"Water will be captured into our storm water system into our detention basin and into a county drain," he said.

He said he and his team have taken residents' concerns seriously.

"It's not falling on deaf ears," Schafer said. "We will be responsible and we want to be a good neighbor.

"I understand what they went through. It was a busted job, so I understand, but we're working with a national home builder, Pulte Homes, and they don't cut anycorners," he said.

He said installing a water pressure booster could improve water pressure for neighboring homes.

"We're going to do the right thing. We're not going to put their housing develop at any time in jeopardy," he said.

The Bluffs at Spring Hill homes would range between about 2,000 to 3,000 square feet.

"They will probably start in the upper $300,000's to $400,000's range," Schafer said.

ContactLivingston Daily reporterJennifer Timar at 517-548-7148 or at jtimar@livingstondaily.com.Follow her on Facebook @Jennifer.Timar99 and Twitter @JenTimar99.

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Neighbors fear erosion, water issues at proposed site of 70 new homes in Brighton - Livingston Daily