Public Meeting Tonight To Discuss Bristol Park Flood Plan

October 5, 2015

A public meeting will be held tonight for residents in the Bristol Park area to discuss drainage ponds that will help eliminate flooding issues.

In April 2014, the area flooded…even those it’s not in a high risk flood zone….with waters overtaking many homes. There are four retention ponds in the neighborhood, but they are mostly overgrown and nearly filled in. The neighborhood developer was obligated to maintain the ponds, but there’s been nothing done in years. The ponds actually were taken over by the county because the developer did not pay property taxes.

It’s estimated that it will cost $594,000, including fees, to fix the four ponds. There’s a proposal on the table for the county to pick up two-thirds of the cost, $396,028, while assessing the rest, $198,019, to Bristol Creek homeowners over the next 10 years.

Divided among the 138 lot owners, it would cost $572 per year for each for 10 years, but under the count’s proposal, the cost per lot would be $219 per year for 10 years. After the $219 per lot payments are made for 10 years, residents will  pay an assessment of $42.13 per lot perpetually for the county to maintain the ponds.

Before moving ahead, District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry wants 75 percent of the impacted residents to agree with the proposal for the Board of County Commissions takes a a final vote.

Barry will host a Bristol Park Neighborhood meeting  tonight at 5:30 p.m. at the Langley Bell 4-H Center at 3730 Stefani Road to discuss the plan. Residents are invited and encouraged to attend the meeting which will include several key County staffers.

Pictured: The map above shows the four ponds the county may maintain in the future. Click to enlarge.

Comments

9 Responses to “Public Meeting Tonight To Discuss Bristol Park Flood Plan”

  1. Alex A on October 5th, 2015 6:31 pm

    Chris, I don’t see how any of those ponds will lower your insurance. Still be in a flood zone. Cost is the full county problem not the residents that pays taxes already.

  2. Solomon on October 5th, 2015 4:32 pm

    Maybe if the County had not permitted a development in the middle of wetlands all of this trouble and cost could have been avoided.

  3. James on October 5th, 2015 3:45 pm

    Thanks!

  4. William on October 5th, 2015 3:39 pm

    >>Where is 3730 Stefani Rd. It does not exist on Google maps

    Next door to the Escambia County Extension offices at 3740 Stefani.

  5. James on October 5th, 2015 3:11 pm

    Where is 3730 Stefani Rd. It does not exist on Google maps. The old Langley Bell 4-H center was on 9 Mile and is now NFCU.

  6. Cantonment Mom on October 5th, 2015 1:22 pm

    What about the 2 ponds in Bristol Park Phase 1?Who’s going to take care of cleaning and maintining these?

  7. well on October 5th, 2015 1:16 pm

    I’m with you Dottie.
    Of course it was never the county’s responsibility either, until after the taxes were not paid for several years, nor do I imagine they want them now.

  8. chris on October 5th, 2015 10:09 am

    I guess it’s either pay it now as an assessment or pay it as higher insurance premiums later.

  9. Dottie P. on October 5th, 2015 7:40 am

    If the county took it over from the developer, then why hasn’t the COUNTY maintained it since taking it over???? The county should be the one paying for it, not the residents. It was never their responsibility.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive