FAYETTEVILLE -- Neighbors and a nearby property owner of a townhome development under construction are raising concerns about the potential for flooding they say could emerge from the site.

David Druding owns property at the northwest corner of Vale Avenue and Cato Springs Road and questions the validity of the stormwater management plan for townhomes being constructed at the adjacent lot to the north. Druding does not live at the property, but is concerned for the wellbeing of neighbors, he said.

The project includes 11 buildings with 63 units and 185 bedrooms on 3.5 acres. Local firm Bates & Associates is the engineer on the project.

Druding said he first became concerned about the project when he saw a sewer hole for the development protruding about three feet from level ground. The elevated nature of the project could pose hazards to nearby properties in the event of heavy rainfall, he said.

Geoff Bates with Bates & Associates said he was confident the project will not flood the neighborhood. The project will have curbs and gutters to direct runoff to a detention pond. A bioswale also will direct any remaining runoff to Vale Avenue, he said.

The project should wrap construction in a year or less, Bates said.

"We have gone through several city reviews and our design meets code," he said.

Chris Brown, the city's public works director, said the project meets all of the city's drainage requirements and the properties in question are upstream from the development.

Druding said he was particularly concerned about an older neighbor who has experienced flooding in her home before. The project seemingly would benefit developers at the risk of lower-income neighbors, he said.

The ditch that runs alongside Vale Avenue's east side needs to be cleaned out because impervious surface area from the development will flow into it and get caught up by debris, potentially spreading throughout the neighborhood, Druding said. A railroad runs alongside the ditch, and the land is owned by Arkansas & Missouri Railroad.

Druding also said he wanted to see trenches on the south and north sides of the townhome property to handle a rapid flow of water.

Neighbor Ryan Delaneuville said he moved to Fayetteville from outside of New Orleans and has experience with flooding. He lived through Hurricane Ida in 2021 and said seeing trees being cut down for the project gave him flashbacks.

"It's just not what it should be," Delaneuville said. "There are better ways to go about it, and better ways for it to be done."

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