Stormwater board approves wet pond at Promise Wedding Estates with safety conditions

The Howard County Stormwater District on Monday approved a site-specific deviation allowing Promise Wedding Estates to convert a previously approved dry detention basin into a wet pond, with board members attaching conditions aimed at reducing safety risks.

Trip Engineering consultant Tori Trip told the board the project would produce a wet feature of just under 7,000 square feet of surface area and about six to eight feet near the permanent water level. Trip said the firm would stamp the final engineering design and that county staff (Greg) had reviewed and generally agreed the proposed layout would work despite nonstandard side slopes that do not meet the ordinance’s minimums.

The board and nearby residents focused on public-safety and access concerns. Resident Jennifer Katibi said the timing of the request is “not good for us right now,” noting a recent death at a retention pond in the community and asking what measures the venue would take to keep children and drivers away. "We are sensitive to that right now," Katibi said.

Applicants said the pond is tucked into a corner of the parking area, separated from event activity by elevation and trees, and that the site plan includes a roughly 20-foot grass buffer plus additional distance from parking to permanent water level. Trip also said the venue will use surveillance cameras and other reasonable safety precautions; the board discussed whether fencing and other measures should be required.

A board member who seconded the motion stressed the risk that a visible water feature can become an “attractive nuisance” and that the owner must implement every reasonable safety measure. The motion to approve the deviation carried on a voice vote; the board recorded "I" and "opposed" responses on the record but did not state exact tallies.

Board minutes show the approval was processed through the ordinance’s deviation mechanism rather than a change to the underlying rules. The board directed staff to make sure the approval is documented and that the final stamped design and any required safety stipulations be satisfied before construction.