Drainage board preliminarily approves Riverwest variance to remedy unintentional floodplain fill

The Hamilton County Drainage Board on June 8 gave preliminary approval to a Riverwest Development variance that proposes to remedy unintentional floodplain fill by creating compensatory storage and moving excess soil on site.

Tessa Huettl of Kimley‑Horn & Associates told the board that the area had been designed originally as a borrow pit that would have provided compensatory storage, but the developer, Millhouse, sourced offsite soil at a low cost and did not construct the borrow pit. Huettl said the offsite material was instead used as a staging area and that revised plans now propose a dry compensatory storage basin on the western portion of the site with placement of excess soil on the eastern portion to achieve a 3:1 compensatory storage ratio.

Steve Cash presented the staff report and said Christopher Burke Engineering reviewed the revised plans and recommended approval. Board members confirmed, during questioning, that the fill had already occurred and were told the current proposal is intended to remedy the unintentional fill.

The board treated this request as the first step in a two‑step variance process; staff said the item would return for final approval after required documentation is complete. Christine Altman, vice president of the Drainage Board, moved to approve the preliminary variance; Steven C. Dillinger seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

Why it matters: The variance affects compensatory storage in a regulated floodplain. The board’s approval allows the developer to proceed with the planned remediation instead of requiring the originally proposed borrow pit, but final approval will require submission of permitting documents and any conditions the board or its consultants impose.

What’s next: The board will consider the final variance application at a future meeting after staff and engineering consultants verify submitted documents and confirm the remedy meets compensatory storage requirements.