Andover couple presses Town over drainage concerns
Herbert and Gillian Lindsey said changes to the grading and drainage of a neighboring property have increased runoff onto their land, leaving them facing thousands of dollars in engineering costs and concerns their home is more vulnerable to flooding.
Speaking during the citizen comments portion of the June 25 meeting, Herbert Lindsey said Town representatives, the neighboring property owner and the Lindseys met Jan. 6 to discuss drainage concerns. He said several commitments made during that meeting were never fulfilled.
According to Lindsey, the builder agreed roof gutter runoff would be directed away from the Lindseys' property and toward a nearby creek, but instead it discharged water into a driveway that slopes toward their property.
He also said the builder agreed not to continue backfilling the rear of the lot, but additional fill was added, raising the property's grade and redirecting groundwater toward the Lindseys' home.
"In addition, we were told that his engineers would evaluate and address drainage concerns," Lindsey said. "Yet no drainage system was installed between the two properties. No drainage swales or other stormwater controls were provided."
He said the issue extends beyond the builder's actions.
“My concern is not simply what the builder did,” he said.
“My concern is why the Town of Farragut allowed it."
Lindsey said the Town knew the property was located in a Federal Emergency Management Agency flood zone and allowed grading changes without requiring a
drainage plan, hydrologic or hydraulic studies or additional stormwater protections.
"My family has owned the property for 23 years," Lindsey said. "The lot now being developed remained undeveloped for 33 years because it was in a flood zone.
"We relied on the existing drainage pattern to maintain our property accordingly," he added. "Now, after these changes, we are dealing with increased runoff, redirected groundwater and blocked drainage easements, all without any apparent protection from the Town."
Lindsey asked Town officials for "accountability and transparency" and requested an explanation as to why commitments made during the Jan. 6 meeting were not enforced and why additional drainage protections were not required.
Williams said he was not familiar with the specifics of the dispute but promised the Town would investigate.
"I will have to get back with you on that and get some people involved because I'm not sure exactly what you're talking about," Williams said. "But, we will get back with you on that."
Williams also asked the couple to provide their contact information so Town staff could follow up.
Gillian Lindsey said she previously contacted Alderman Alex Cain but never received a response.
She said the dispute has continued for a year and has forced the couple to hire engineers at their own expense.
"The engineer that developed the subdivision did a report for us that cost $7,000," she said. "We're about to spend another $6,000 to $12,000 for an H&H calculation, which should have been requested by the Town of Farragut."
Gillian Lindsey said she has repeatedly asked the Town to intervene but believes no action has been taken.
After speaking with FEMA officials in Nashville, she said she was told the amount of backfill placed on the neighboring property should have required a hydrologic and hydraulic analysis.
"The developer took his property out of the flood zone and put our property in the flood zone," she said. "Our crawl space is on that side of the property where the significant flooding happens."
Williams reiterated that the Town would review the matter.
"Again, we will do some research on this," he said.
