Residents urge council to resolve Pelican Lane flooding after unpermitted driveway cut; engineers say design reduces flood stage

Multiple residents addressed the council during public comment about an unpermitted driveway cut and related flooding on Pelican Lane (Hypoluxo Island). Homeowners Harry and Heather Ehrlich said they built an access road to provide safe ingress and engaged Keith Engineering to study drainage; the Ehrlichs said the study shows a "net reduction of floodwater." They asked the council to consider an easement, license or variance to allow maintenance of the access.

Engineer Michael Cardoza of Keith and Associates told the council his pre/post development analysis found the stage during storm events was lowered by 0.2 feet (about 2.5 inches), and that the proposed detention areas would reduce runoff. Several neighbors expressed mixed views: some said the improvements mitigated flooding and praised the landscaping, while others said they worried about loss of open green space, permitting fairness and the absence of an initial permit. Resident Robert Ferrero said flooding at his garage had worsened in the last decade and urged the council not to refuse safe access.

Council members and staff said they believed the parties could work toward an easement and asked the Ehrlichs’ engineer to coordinate with the town engineer and staff; the town imposed a stop-work order while permits and right-of-way issues are resolved. Council emphasized fairness and that code-enforcement and special-magistrate processes were already engaged for related private-property issues.