Clayton plan reviewer urges stronger stormwater controls, warns of flooding risks

Andrew Lyons, development plan reviewer for the Town of Clayton, said the town must ensure stronger stormwater controls to reduce flooding that he said is already affecting residents.

Lyons, speaking during a presentation that coincided with Engineers’ Week, described his office’s role: it handles intake and review of all projects entering the town — including site plans and construction drawings — and evaluates sewer, water and stormwater elements for compliance with state and town regulations. He said those reviews are intended to produce "a sufficient and satisfactory" outcome for the town and its customers.

Lyons defined stormwater as precipitation runoff from impervious surfaces such as roadways and roofs and emphasized the link between inadequate stormwater measures and flooding. Drawing on his experience studying flooding, he said the town and state sometimes lack proper stormwater control measures and consistent maintenance, which "directly impact our citizens." He added, "When those flooding impacts come into our plan review, we really take this seriously and try to come up with a plan, moving forward and make sure that what we're providing to the town and to our customers is a sufficient and satisfactory product for, for flooding."

There were no formal motions or votes recorded in the transcript. Lyons framed the town’s review process as the primary forum for addressing stormwater concerns; he did not give a timetable for regulatory changes or specify funding sources. The presentation closed with an emphasis on continuing careful plan review to reduce flood risk for residents.