Note the Nov. 10 follow-up to this article: “As It Fields Flood of Complaints, Palm Coast Is Revising Building Rules to Limit New Houses’ Fill Elevations.”
It’s as if Palm Coast’s geology is suddenly sprouting small, quarter-acre hills. It’s not a metaphor. New homes are being built on significantly higher fill bases of a foot, two feet or more than adjoining properties. Older properties that never flooded now do. Homeowners of long date are shocked as they watch the yards of their dream homes–their main investment–turn to small lakes.
The city has made them feel even more powerless. They’ve complained, asked how new construction could possibly be allowed to rise so high, only to be stunned by the response: there’s nothing the city can do. There are no limits on fill height.
On Tuesday, many of those homeowners flooded the Palm Coast City Hall chambers to tell the council their stories. One of them described a new house next-door built four feet higher than his, causing chronic flooding. They are demanding some action beyond the vague or technical answers they’ve been getting.
They got a measure of satisfaction, at least in words and promises, though as far as reversing course on ongoing construction or fill allowances, that’s not in the cards. Only new regulations could affect that, and new building regulations take time. But that’s what a council member is pledging.
“We still have 1000s of infill lots that this can potentially still happen on,” City Council member Theresa Pontieri said. “I have asked city manager to work with staff to readdress our land development code and our technical manual to address this on a larger scale, so that we can not only fix what’s going on now, but also look to the future. And I’ve asked for deliverables from city staff in the form of updates.”
Pontieri spoke after nearly a dozen people had brought their stories to the council.
“You know, we pay our taxes and we hope that you guys would take care of us, take care of our needs, look out for our interests,” Mara Wuerth, who used a visual aid to show how a house is rising on a lot next to hers, far higher than hers, with no push back from the city. “This is not looking out for our interests. We tried to stop it. They just didn’t want to listen, they didn’t care. They did not care. They admitted it was too high. I mean, the they built up the sand up this high. This high, and then built the house on top of the sand this high, and what happens when the rain comes. Who’s going to pay for all the damages? Nobody.” (Carl Cote, the city’s construction manager, said the fill was measured at a little more than a foot higher than the adjacent lot.)
“We’re finding out that there’s a huge lack of regulation in this city, as far as new construction is concerned,” Wuerth said. “And we hope that you will address that because there’s so much building in the city, and we appreciate that it gives us jobs. It boosts our economy. We’re not against that. But we need more regulation and enforcement.”
An F-Section resident spoke of similar issues there. “A lot of the insurance companies are saying hey, build it higher is better, but they’re also not looking at the surrounding houses,” he said. “Brought this up to the building department and inspection was done on a particular property. And the answer was: well, the silt barriers are in place. The silt barriers have nothing to do with the long term effect.”
Toni Mikol lives on 7 White Horse Lane. She described a “swamp” in her back yard because of a new house next door, which she says has already affected her property values. “My property values are going down already because there’s a house next door. So I expect the city then to lower my property taxes, because I’m not going to be able to sell my house. It is now in a flood zone, which was never in a flood zone.” (In fact, the just market value of Mikol’s property, which she has owned since 2006, has increased 159 percent in the last 10 years, according to property appraiser records, and by 43 percent just since 2021, the year the house at 9 White Horse Lane was built. Her city taxes will decline by $5 when next year’s bill is due.)
Mikol said she has two empty lots behind her house. “They’re up for sale,” she said. “When those houses go up and the ground is three feet above mine, as it is now I’d never flooded there. I’d been there almost 20 years. The water comes up to my lanai, my concrete patio I put there. My house will have water, the water running through it, when they build those two homes that are going to be put up. I mean, this is ridiculous what the city is allowing these new builders to build these houses.” She described an experience similar to Wuerth’s: city inspectors told her they were powerless to stop the elevation, which she measured at two and a half feet above her lot’s surface.
Several others described very similar issues. Some of them, including Wuerth, had alerted Council member Ed Danko and local media, generating reports (the Palm Coast Observer first reported it in the county) and visits to properties by Danko, who questioned Cote insistently on Tuesday. He described the Birchwood Drive fill as 3 feet or more than the adjoining lot, not one foot, bringing it to the city manager’s attention. “When I looked at that property, I was pretty alarmed,” he said.
City Manager Denise Bevan said some “field investigations” were conducted, and deferred to Cote, who said the city had gotten permission to do some survey work on the surrounding properties. He put the new concrete slab elevation at 1.09 feet above one side and 1.24 feet above the other. But he said the stormwater grading plan falls within the city’s regulations, which require all floodwaters to move from the back of the property to the front, toward the swales and the road. The requirements are focused on grading and slopes. He did not mention fill height limits.
“Right now they just get the fill dirt in, they dump a bunch of fill on the site so they can build the slab, and then they move the dirt around and they work on the final grading at a later stage in the project,” Cote said.
When Danko asked Cote whether he’d be “OK living next to that,” Mayor David Alfin called the question out of order, and before long, he’d slammed his gavel so hard that Council member Cathy Heighter was visibly startled and the large crowd hissed, while Alfin himself seemed aware that he may have slammed the gavel harder than he intended. He threatened to clear the room, asked Danko to continue his inquiries with the city manager later, and turned to Pontieri, who then made her pledge, urging residents to contact council members and the city and follow-up even as she spoke cautiously about existing limitations.
“Because, yes, we have requirements and yes, if they meet the requirements, there’s only so much that we can do,” Pontieri said. “But we can also engage in mitigation factors or make the builders and the developers engage in mitigation factors.” What those are is not clear.
Candace Stevens moved into her Point Pleasant house as Hurricane Irma was sweeping the region in 2017. “I woke up in the morning, not knowing what to expect and I had no flooding in my yard,” she said. Two houses have been built on adjacent lots since. Now her property floods. “I want to know how anybody with a right mind that’s not an engineer cannot see that when you’re building the house that’s higher to us existing people, how the water is not going to sit in our yards,” she said. “How is that possible? Don’t you all have homes like we do?” When it rains heavily, the property floods. She added: ” I moved here and bought my dream home didn’t everybody else, please how many other people are having flooding in their yard?”
Marilyn Mack, an F-Section resident who bought her house 10 years ago, saw a new house recently built on an adjoining lot significantly higher than hers last year, a construction company that tore up her yard, tearing down pine trees and never repairing it despite 14 months of her pressing for action. She’s gotten lip service from the city. “Something’s not right here. This is not how the government is supposed to work,” she told the council. As a disabled person, she said her lot has become unsafe. “The inspector came out and gave them their certificate of occupancy knowing that my property looked like that. That’s not right. That’s not how the government is supposed to work. You’re supposed to work for us.”
Like others, she spoke of her house as her biggest investment, now in jeopardy. “And everybody that works for the city and whatever departments, construction and everything else, just turned a blind eye and–well, no problem. She’ll have to deal with it,” Mack said, noting that she’s been dealing with it for 14 months. “I don’t need this on my plate. I’ve got enough going on.”
Been There says
OMG every time it rains, I am under water but my neighbors are all nice and dry. Who do we contact about this. You can look at the houses around me and see they are graded higher. My house is the oldest house on the street and the houses behind me were built later as well. Is there any legal recourse I can take?
TR says
It’s been happening for years now. I know two people that it happened to. One in the west end of the “W” section and one in the “R” section. Both complained to the city and nothing was done. They both had dirt go into their pools because of the water that came from the surrounding lots. At this point there is probably nothing that you by yourself can do but maybe contact a lawyer to start a class action law suit. Good luck and I hope you find a solution.
MHM says
Palm Coast needs badly the expertise and resources on flood and drainage control.
Bill C says
Seems to me the answer is STEM WALLS. Monolithic foundations are cheaper for the builder because they are poured all in one shot, so the grade must first be elevated with trucked in fill. Problem is, not only is the monolithic type of slab more prone to settling, eventually leading to cracked floors and other expensive problems later on, but as attested here, leads to flooding of next door neighbors! By the way, perhaps lots would not have to be clear cut of beautiful mature trees that add value to the home. Stem wall construction should be required in the building codes. Check out this website for more info:
https://sposenhomes.com/differences-between-stem-wall-monolithic-foundations/
Bill C says
PPS: According to the USDA “Healthy, mature trees add an average of 10 percent to a property’s value. “
Laurel says
Bill C.: That’s what we did, and since we did it on the previous, old footprint, not one tree was lost. This mentality of clear cutting properties, and bringing in excessive fill (some may be needed if the land dips down) is very short sighted.
Bill C says
PS: A Stem Wall is essentially a constructed elevated platform upon which the house is built, eliminating the need to elevate the grade of the entire lot, only the area the house will rest on.
Foresee says
KaBOOM, kaBOOM. Probably most people in Palm Coast are familiar with the sound made by the stream of dump trucks dropping off loads of fill at house construction sites. The trucks drop their loads, race forward, then stop short so the heavy metal gate in the back slams into the truck box in order to dislodge any remaining fill. The explosive sound is enough to wake up the dead. Anything that would minimize this noise pollution, which often starts in the early A.M. would benefit all residents. Plus the trucks tear up the asphalt roads. The less dump trucks the better.
Jim Walker says
The reason is the city is shooting elevations off the center of the streets instead of the curbs. Building code is off the curb not the center of the street. The city is not telling the truth.
Dennis C Rathsam says
Give thanx to STUFF EM IN ALVIN! Instead of helping tax paying residents fofill thier home ownership dream, The “BRIANS” at city hall have turned it into a nightmare! You bet your ass in wont happen by one of the councils houses. Went I bought my home, I wasnt in a flood zone, now I am. The only thing that changed is where once was gods green earth, is now a new house. I once told mayor Netts many years ago that these swale,s were shit for the birds. Why not install sewers and solve the water problem once & for all. No more smelly standing water in front of our houses all summer… He said welcome to FL. The conversation went downhill from there.
Deirdre says
If Palm Coast can make it so difficult for businesses to have signs you would think they could make it difficult for builders to create a flooding situation when building new homes.
If I was in a yard that now flooded I would seriously consider digging a ditch around it – a decorative dry creek bed lined with rocks that can handle the extra water when it rains.
What else can you do? Sounds like it’s too late to fix some of these problems once someone buys the house and is living in it and everything was done legally.
TR says
Your idea is a good one but you would have to do it without getting caught because from your side and back property lines is is a 5′ easement that I was told by a city employee that the city can use for whatever they want. Good luck.
Laurel says
TR: I don’t know PC ordinances on property lines, but I doubt there are 5′ easements all around each property. More likely, that’s setbacks on the sides, and a larger setback in the back. PC cannot do what they want on setbacks. Easements are used for utilities, so PC could come in and put in a water line, etc.
Meanwhile, each property owner is responsible to keep rain runoff on their property.
TR says
I know for a fact they are called easements. Might want to look it up. Found all this out back in 1997 when I bought my house, but rented before that starting 1989.
CELIA PUGLIESE says
here: https://docs.palmcoastgov.com/departments/community-development/ldc-technical-manual/section%205%20-%20engineering.pdf
Wobie says
Sounds like a class action suit against the city. I too have filed a case with the city and provided them photos. Not a word to date. On the palm coast connect, it shows pending – assigned to department. Haven’t seen hide nor hair of a city representative. I had to resort to pumping the water out every time because it gets stagnant and attracts mosquitoes. Obvious the mayor doesn’t give a crap. Wouldn’t want to disrupt his real estate interests and upset his cronies. I’ve lived in this house over 25 years and never had flooding issues until a few months ago when they started building the house next door. I call BS and implore the city to get off their asses and listen to its citizens and make it right!!
TR says
Wobie, I hate to tell you but you can wait until the cows come home before anyone of any department in the city ever calls anyone back. I have had to deal with a few departments in the past few years and when I call to talk to the person in charge, I am always told they will get back to me and they NEVER do. So I wish you better luck that I have had. I’ve lived her since 1989 and it has done nothing but gotten worse by the year.
Bill Boots says
Why not put new homes on lots at same elevation as abutters, share the wealth, everyone floods or nobody floods?
jeffery c. seib says
This issue is a bad example of “dammed if you do, dammed if you don’t.” Due to the irrefutable fact that new home construction is required by insurance companies to be built at a higher elevation than in the past due to their fears of increased flooding risk this situation, is, sadly, what we get. The city council may express alarm and solidarity with the affected homeowners living next door to the higher elevations, but they would be nuts to rescind this requirement. Why, because the folks moving here would either have to pay an astronomical insurance amount essentially shutting down the market or wing it with no insurance and the nightmare that would cause. The only solution I can see is for the city to require the new home construction to dig out a drainage ditch on the edge of the new home property out to the swale in the front yard.
TR says
Technically your solution would work, but the swale will not be able the handle the extra water. hell most swales now don’t do what they’re suppose to do and every time it rains heavily there is standing water for days, sometime weeks afterwards. So now add the extra water from all the new property run off on your street and your street will flood.
L Richards says
Note: It is not the height of the building that causes any peripheral flooding, it is the grading. The house can be 100′ high or more and will shed as much runoff as a 1-story house of the same footprint. Again, it must be graded properly to abate side yard runoff.
BIG Neighbor says
I like the idea of looking at both sides of this argument. Question is are their other ways to look at this? Obviously building at a higher elevation creates a slope, coupled with occupying space displaces water with velocity. We know the Stormwater swale infrastructure is outdated yet the City refuses to address this in its Comprehensive planning? It seems counterintuitive to design elevated new to mitigate while taking out many due to cascading effects “caused by natural events”? I don’t buy that as credible, but as home owners and tax /home insurance payers, do we have a choice? Is PC the only place where this is happening? Lots of work here. Is anyone leaning and looking into these aspects? Or have all these matters been addressed and put to rest?
BLINDSPOTTING says
Looks like we have another FLEA COATED FURRY on our hands.Now we can see why
Mayor Alfin wanted his code of ethics signed by his council staff, Danko was not out
of order when he asked cote if he would live next to that, then Alfin threatened to clear the
room! What kind of nonsense is this?? Remember this at voting time folks as both
the Mayor as well as some of the pansies on the FCBOCC show their true colors. We
can clearly see who just don’t care , vote them out! We are tired of deaf ears and blind eyes!
A persons home and property is their biggest investment and if there is no respect from
our officials to home and property owners for that they need to go.
Mitzi Gee says
This has been a big issue for our home. We have asked the city to come out several times. They don’t care and act like my complaints are silly and frivolous. Our house was built in 1997 and each successive home built around ours is higher and higher. We have had to set up a system of pumps to keep our yard from being totally underwater when it rains. I have felt defeated by the total lack of concern from the city and I am glad to see attention to this huge problem.
Mike says
Here’s some info., not official.
According to the Florida Building Code, properly designed buildings and homes shouldn’t cause flooding for neighbors. Construction standards typically call for them to include swales or other features to handle runoff from the property — no matter how much higher they’re built.May 7, 2023
Mara Wuerth says
According to Carl Cote after I asked him what he plans to do with our situation. He says they have issued their permits and they are not requiring the builder to do anything. If we wanted proper drainage so we don’t get flooded, we will have to pay for it. I was shocked out how blatantly callous this department is being. So I asked him again, you expect the people who did not have say in how high these structures are being to pay, once again? Isn’t it enough that we have paid our taxes that pay your salary?
TR says
I got the same uninterested attitude from him. He will listen to what you have to say and then forget your name and complaint the minute you hang up the phone.
CELIA PUGLIESE says
Never loose hope that united we can improve things! Hope floats and the power of determination no matter how long works!
CELIA PUGLIESE says
Lets see if council and mayor will turn around Carl Cote’s unjustifiable reply to you! I bet they will!
Tim says
I didn’t think it was Legal to let your water run off drain on to someone else’s property.
Local says
There is a document that every homeowner has to sign before construction begins that states that thebwill not create flooding issues with surrounding properties.
Isabella says
Blame it on ALL the new politicians of Flagler County. Vote them out
Joe Marotti says
When I built my house here the city told me that the grade had to be going to the front or back or both so that runoff water would be directed away from your neighbors property. I didn’t know they changed that rule. There is a Vee shaped drain between properties that funnel the water to the back or front. It was the building contractor that is responsible to see that it is done and the inspectors should be following up on this.
Skibum says
Older homes were designed and built for building codes and environmental concerns that were foreseen at that time. Unfortunately for a lot of homeowners and renters living in some very old homes that are now way out of date for updated building codes and the ever present danger of increased flooding due to more extreme weather and more packed in homes in areas where water previously could soak into the ground quicker when it wasn’t covered with concrete and asphalt, the reality is much different now. This may sound uncaring (it is not meant to be), but NOBODY is forced into a particular home, residential area or city. When you moved in, especially for those who have lived in their homes for a long time, things are considerably different today than at the time you first chose to live where you are. But the bottom line is, if you now don’t like your living situation for whatever reason, including that you believe your home and/or yard is more prone to getting flooded due to newer homes being built on higher lots, make plans to move somewhere else where you would be happier. I know people will say that is easier said than done, but moving is NEVER easy, it is always challenging and somewhat stressful, but that is life. Go where you are happy and stop complaining about everything under the sun!
CELIA PUGLIESE says
Skibum A class action suit of affected Palm Coast residents will resolve this problem and maybe also your crass and too common insidious command of “if you are not happy move!” No Way and we are standing our ground defending our health, safety, value of our “castle homes” our homesteads. Because you do not have the problem does not mean you will kick us all out. No, we will continue our battles and goals to preserve our safety, health, value of our homes and peace and quiet…regarding this ridiculous allowed new homes over backfill that even affect affluent residents of Island Estates as one spoke his 3 minutes on the 11/7 meeting and was given the personal attention by the Chief of Staff, that I hope the affected lady by 98 Birchwood Drive was supposed to be given as well. Is pite of community berming like you in 48 hours 6,000 interested residents in our local social media read about this over backfill allowed and many realize are enduring the issue. Is the same that many are enduring the flight schools “touch and goes” practice 200 or less feet over their roofs in Zenia Trail and adjacent areas by the arrogant students and trainers out of an airport that doesn’t even have a radar… That is being addressed as well as so far we are “NOT MOVING OUT” to your desdain. You maybe one of those in the local government payroll speaking from his/her high horse with your equestrian boots on, afforded by our sacrificed earned residents taxes! The residents realities can be seing here: https://www.palmcoastgov.com/agendas/city-council/meeting/16757/city-council?video=true
Skibum says
Well, I wish you and others luck in a potential lawsuit when the city is not in violation of any law. You may have better luck suing the individual building contractor if their property grading method is causing the problem. And to your comment about me trying to “kick us all out”, I have no interest at all in kicking anyone out. I was merely making an observation that this is a free country and people can and do pull up stakes and move when they are unhappy with their neighborhoods, whether that be the neighbors from hell, crime concerns, lack of responsiveness from local government officials, etc. Some people just are so stubborn they endure all kinds of dislikes and complain forever. It is a waste of air to complain but never seek to get beyond the complaints. And as far as your assertion that I might work in local government, that is hilarious… I am happily retired, thank you very much. I was never employed anywhere in FL.
Mm says
Skibum I agree with you. Not trying to sound cruel but if a person isn’t happy they have the choice to move. Things in life changes, I know people realize that. It is harder to move than to stay but sometimes we need to do what makes us safe and happy. Will filing suit against the city help anything if the city is following the laws. Filing suit against the construction company may prove to be very difficult if the city inspectors signed off on work that has been completed. Construction companies move cities don’t. Hard to file suit against a company they can’t find.
BLINDSPOTTING says
Mm: Easy to talk s**t when its not happening to you! These peope
can’t even sell their homes/property let alone make a profit on
it, so your answer is sell it to someone else who will suffer the
hardship? The city is responsible and should get hit hard with a
class act lawsuit in their faces, the city’s hired administration
planners and developers should be slapped with the lawsuits too
since they were and still are negligent with protecting the home
owners interest, safety and well being, I’m sure that a creative
lawyer will finds loads of wrongdoings once they search, what
are you afraid of, that something will be found. Folks do it, sue
the crap out of them, unless they come up with a fix!
James says
What newer standards?
Have you ever noticed how many of these newer houses are being built on uncompacted fill?
Always optional, but highly recommended.
Just an observation.
Jim says
This may be one of the stupidest responses I’ve ever read. Are you serious? You buy a house, put most of your finances into the purchase, take care of it and hope that it will increase in value over time. You have the RIGHT to expect the city to enact and enforce building codes that do not impact the neighbors when a new house is built. To just say, “hey, things change; if you don’t like it, move” is just asinine. That might apply to a lot of things but not to your home. You have a right to expect your property to not be impacted by new construction. The city has the responsibility to assure that any new construction is not going to adversely impact existing structures. Period.
I don’t know why the city can’t implement a change in the code to require any home being built above the grade of the home(s) beside it to provide adequate drainage to offset the impact of their construction. Why that’s not a near term solution just evades me.
And to our illustrious mayor…. I seldom side with Danko on anything but why he was “gaveled down” for asking a very good question is just beyond me. Maybe the mayor needs to sign a behavior code…. This city is growing at an extremely rapid rate and residents that are here now are very concerned about the impact all this is going to have on our quality of life. The mayor is a “build, baby, build” realtor and this type incident just cements for me that he does not have the best interests of Palm Coast citizens at heart.
I’ve never lived anywhere that has demonstrated more incompetence in government than what goes on daily here. I’d love to vote them out but what are the odds we’ll get a candidate who will do what most of us want instead of just lie their way into office?
I really feel for all the current homeowners here who are living with this mess. They deserve so much better.
Skibum says
Have you never moved from somewhere because you were unhappy with where you lived and wanted a change? If there is no law being violated by either the city or building code and the city says the contractor is not doing anything wrong, yes you can sue, but anyone can sue for any reason. Winning is a completely different matter. You may think it is ridiculous to suggest someone move, but people move all the time when they don’t like a particular issue. You don’t think that is an option, fine, don’t move and just continue to be unhappy and deal with it forever. Filing a lawsuit is NOT a guaranteed solution, and it could be more expensive to the homeowner if it ends up in a long, protracted court battle. I don’t envy anyone dealing with this situation, but there are a lot of pros and cons to consider before envisioning $$$ signs in your eyes thinking you will automatically be on the winning side trying to sue a local government or a wealthy building contractor! But those who think they know what they are doing and nothing will dissuade them, cross your fingers, hold your breath and go for it.
BLINDSPOTTING says
Skibum: Ha!, Look at you on here now as you try to slither around to defend your callous
inconsiderate MOVE statement, we have heard you on here other times talking the
SOS when other residents have voiced complaints with their concerns of human rights
of safety their health and well being. MOVE is not the answer to problems that must
be fixed due to poor decisions made by people in high places who just don’t care and leave
the problems for new people who move here as you snuggle so comfy in your digs because
it does not affect you!
Skibum says
Well, Blindspotting, my career was in criminal justice dealing with laws and legal issues for many, many years. Maybe I learned just enough about what are legally defensible issues that stand a good chance in a court of law, and what is merely bluster and BS while commenting anonymously on a website.
BLINDSPOTTING says
Skibum: there you go with your pompous know it all attitude again,
thousands of house are affected by the once again poor decisions
and the callous attitude of planners, developers and, officials who
are the REAL BS artist, if it were up to you thousands of people
would be moving out of Palm Coast and what happens to the ones who
can’t afford it or don’t want to leave their homes , lawsuits do work
you may be surprised by this one, according to you people should take
a huge loss on one of their biggest investments and just pick up
and leave! You should also practice what you are BS’ing about in this
recent comment , as you comment anonymously, for someone whose
career was in criminal justice I sure would not want you representing me!
Laurel says
Skibum: Wow, you got hit hard! Undeserved, in my opinion. Well, you’re still my BFF!
BLINDSPOTTING says
Laurel: Undeserved? All of these comments on here with homeowners
getting and taking a hit on poor decisions made and performed by
those who are suppose to be doing the right thing with codes and
development, At least you offer some good positive suggestions, while
your BFF spews his MOVE comments to innocent home owners. Does
Skibum live in the Hammock or in PC, would be interesting to
know.
Laurel says
Blindspotting: The hostility is unwarranted. I used to work in stormwater and am well aware of the situation. Whether you like it or not, due diligence is lacking here. You are not that innocent. Also, the developers and cohorts are getting away with this, and I do not agree with it.
Palm Coast is a poorly planned city, in what is really swamp land, and it will always be a problem. If someone suggests you may be happier in a better development, there is no reason to show such hostility.
Port St. Lucie has very similar topography drainage problems that they have been dealing with for a long time. Maybe speaking with them may help.
Whether a person lives in the Hammock or in Palm Coast is irrelevant. One is county and one is city. Either place requires research before purchasing. Going off brochures or real estate agents doesn’t cut it. Having a developer super friendly government doesn’t cut it either. Vote.
BLINDSPOTTING says
Laurel: The only hostility I see here is from 2 people’s comments
who are Hammock Huck and your BFF Skibum, so stop defining
people with your arrogant comments and your quick to judge
attitude about people looking at brochures or blamng realitors.
Stop laughing at people’s misfortune, many people have lived in PC
and owned their homes for decades, you have a bad attitude towards
the people of PC and its shows with your other comment in the past
us paying a bridge fees and denying Palm Coasters to possibility
of having their own beach, you referred to someones post on here as
Pontieri’s beloved, yes she is our beloved as she showns compassion
for her city residents, you are on here left and right with all kinds of
comments, you should GET A LIFE TOO along with your Hammock
buddies who are laughing at peoples misery and hope that the ocean
does not take precious 3 mile strip, maybe you guys should be thinking
of moving soon, of course people know they can move they don’t need
anyone throwing that up in their faces but some just can’t, what do
you have to say to the person that has stage 4 cancer and whose
parents are taking care of here and can’t afford to move, and there
are plenty more who may be in the same situation, so if you think you
are going to shut people down with your jibberish you got the wrong one!
Laurel says
If I had stage four cancer, I would be thinking of other things than water draining on my property. None of us here knocked a person for having cancer, so lighten up on the drama.
Not me nor my “Hammock buddies” are laughing. I have tried to help with suggestions through my experience. I understand your anger, but don’t take it out on the wrong people.
If y’all had really paid attention to Skibum, you’d understand he was trying to save you from a lot of heartbreak. Instead, like a mob, you jumped to conclusions and attacked. Just what do you think you will accomplish with law suits against the city? What will the city do for you? The codes were already in place, and the developers followed code. The homes were CO’d and sold, and the homeowner takes the responsibility. Not saying I agree with that, just there is nothing illegal here. Go ahead, contact a real estate lawyer, and start the battle. I sincerely wish you luck, as I believe the City of Palm Coast is poorly planned, and its residents are feeling it now. You may be able to sue your neighbors, but you must provide evidence of real damage.
About the best you can do now, is organize a group and become the squeaky wheels at commission meetings. Some here think the Hammock is successful with most of its fights is because the residents are rich (that would be nice!). That’s not true. We are successful because we have an active group, with green shirts, who show up to meetings. It may force some sort of relief for you, and will definitely change the ordinances. A moratorium on building, demanded by the protestors, may also give some relief.
Personally, my husband and I would be putting in retainer walls. We tend to physically work to fix a problem. Waiting, and paying, for judgements sounds awful.
BLINDSPOTTING says
Laurel : stop taking people’s words out of context and God forbid
you were as ill as this poor woman you wouldn’t be thinking about
moving too, point being that thousands are being affected who
are NOT IN ANY POSITION TO “JUST MOVE”. whether it be
financially, physically, mentally, good for the ones who prefer to
do so and can afford it but they will be taking a big hit on their
investment and the money they put into it if even they can sell at
this point. Once again talk about name calling its your Hammock
huck below who is the racist one on your lily white strip, maybe you
should be directing your attitude towards him! One again I have
heard YOU on here call Pontieri a “moron” yes you did apologize
following the push back you received. The only “mob” that comes
on here is your “mob” spewing the “just move” “go back where
you came from” “yanks” , “don’t cross this bridge”, ‘stay in PC’
we have seen and heard it all and it’s not going to go unadressed
any longer, we are sick of it and it’s disgusting, so stop trying to
slither around it, you and your BFF’S has made it quite clear about
your feelings of Palm Coast and our citizens and it’s sad that ya’ll
have to come from a position of hate. We don’t need your advice
about lawsuits either, we will find out from an experienced
attorney if we have a case. Goodbye and good luck to you.
CELIA PUGLIESE says
OMG Laurel so Skibum is your BFF (best female friends?) Tell her to not hide behind aliases while using one herself… Maybe is one of those sustained by our taxes while biting the hand that feeds her!
Laurel says
Celia: BFF stands for “best friends forever.” I use it from time to time as a little smile when I agree with someone. I like Skibum, and I like his mind. I can tell how a person is by an alias or a full name by their consistency of thought. Maybe you want to reconsider your sarcasm because I think it was flat out nasty, and out of line.
BLINDSPOTTING says
Celia: it can also mean BEST FURRY FRIEND, and maybe Laurel is
LAUREL AND HARDY
Skibum says
Laurel, thanks for the kind words… I guess I really stirred up a hornet’s nest, huh? I certainly did not intend to be mean to anyone, just wanted to state my opinion as I saw the facts. I won’t reply anymore to Blindspotting or Celia’s comments because they apparently think I intentionally meant to offend those who are dealing with the property issues and it is just not worth the aggravation of trying to explain that we all have opinions that may be different than someone else but just as valid. But I’m not trying to expand this discussion into another chapter of back and forth mischaracterizations or insults, and wish them the best of luck in whatever they decide to do. For what it is worth, they are giving you a bad rap too for stating YOUR opinion that does not jive with theirs. But life will go on.
Laurel says
Skibum: Still my BFF! LOL :D I agree with you. So much taken wrong, out of context and attacks. I will steer away as well.
BLINDSPOTTING says
Laurel So this was taken out of context by your BFF, “move and stop
complaining about every under the sun”??? As we heard these words
out of his mouth on other resident related complaints. Well if the
residents did not complain and “just move” and took a big hit
on their homes and property there would not have been a task force
set up by the city in attempts to try to resolve these problems, we see
that you and your BFF are very upset over the Bing’s won lawsuit deal
in your neck of the woods , maybe you guys should “just move” because
the growth is coming to your neck of the woods so if you don’t like it
you know you can “just move.”
TR says
Jim if I may answer your question
” I don’t know why the city can’t implement a change in the code to require any home being built above the grade of the home(s) beside it to provide adequate drainage to offset the impact of their construction. ” the answer is simple. No one on the city council has any common sense.
Local says
These people with higher houses can legally be sued. They signed documents in their permit package that says improvments to the property wont cause flooding on surrounding properties.
Skibum says
I have owned and living in our home for more than 10 years now. When we bought this home, lots on both sides were vacant – we also own one of them. I had hoped to buy the other one over the years so we had a little more space to separate us from neighbors, but the owner of the other lot was from up north and he and his wife retired and within the last couple of years ended up building their retirement home on it. Wouldn’t you know… when the contractor graded their lot it ended up being about a foot higher than our lot. I thought that was strange at first, and like others, wondered if runoff would increase puddling of water onto our lot. But after the home was built and the grass was put in, that has NEVER been a problem for us. Although the slope does gently slope down from close to their property line to the middle area between our houses, even when it rains hard you cannot tell that there is any puddling of water, or flooding of our lot, so my concerns evaporated just as fast as the water. It might be a good idea for these homeowners to wait until the houses are finished and the lawn and landscaping is in so they can see if their concerns are valid or not before going full bore with a lawsuit. That is my opinion.
Kassie says
Wow dude really people put there hard earn money into their homes. And for you to say if you don’t like it move. Well some of us don’t have that option and some of us grew up in our house. What gives you the right to go off on people like that. Let me tell you something dude. My parents house has never flooded until the house next door was built. My parents house has a pond in their atrium on the middle of their home and when it rains the water that use to drain out to the swells are now flooded due to the house next door. My parents are retired and they are taking care of me because I have stage 4 cancer and for you to tell someone if you don’t like it move. Some of us don’t have that option. So you need to get off your freaking high horse and go back from where you came from. Cause I’m seeing more and more houses get flooded because of how high these houses are being built. So before you go run your mouth again you need to think about what people are going through.
BLINDSPOTTING says
Kassie: I am so sorry that you are going through this, You are in my
positive thoughts of good health and a speedy recovery. With this
being said I don’t know how anyone can come on here and comment
on people who are experiencing this awful disaster in ther lives to
tell then to MOVE! His comment makes a bad situation to those affected
even worst, its adding insult to injury. Why would anyone make such
a uncaring insensitive comment is beyond me. He should GET A LIFE!
and stop getting off on peoples misery. He is a miserable human.
Rick says
Get rid of the Mayor and his whole bunch QUICKLY. IMPEACH HIM ! Then start litigation against the City for now being in a Man Made Flood Zone by the City. Organize, contribute and SUE, before these Politicians go too far with any further Construction and ruin Palm Coast as they are currently doing ! Just look at the traffic now, and some of the clientele moving in – Scary
billy says
well, it sounds like a lot of the city employees with their college degrees on their desk can’t come up with a solution to fix the problem. making 80 90,000 a year and six-figure salary‘s are a bunch of phonies
Celia Pugliese says
Oh boy do I agree with you! Now we have our excellent copuncilwoman Pointieri questioning thier desicions all the time as is supposed to be done on behalf of us all she represents! We need more Pointierie’s and Highter’s in 2024 and quiet few new city staff specially with no conflict of interest!
Jewels says
We have had this same issue since the home behind us I called the city several times before that actually came out. All they did was walk around the property and said it was to code. That the ditch in front was capable of the drainage. Well that has never worked. The water gets so high it reaches our air conditioner pad. Plus we have been here 20 years and they only dug out the street culvert once. So we flood terribly and can take a week to fully recede. It’s a joke if you think the city cares. They call us lake big bear.
The dude says
As far as I can see they don’t put substrate down or compact the earth after the grading either… they just dump concrete in the forms and move on to the next.
They definitely don’t do those things when they build a pool and patio (which is also subject to city “building codes”…).
I asked my pool builder why they didn’t do those things and they replied “we put fiber in the concrete”… then when my patio started cracking before the pool even had water in it, their reply was “that’s just Florida”…
I wish builders in this city were at least held to normal building codes and practices at least as rigorously as the citizens are to grass height and trash cans in view of the street.
Hammock Huck says
Laughing my azz off! Welcome to Palm Coast, where the city doesn’t care about the residents, it’s all about which politician can line their pockets with the most money! FYI, for all you complaining YANKS, I95 still runs north and south! LEAVE!
CELIA PUGLIESE says
Huck, heck don’t laugh so hard as county does same! Thanks to Palmcoaster’s utility in the near future you won’t have to worry about your own poop invading and stinking your yards as will be properly disposed in a sanitized civilized way! So you owe us all PalmCoasters a big TY other than posting your prejudiced vews!
Laurel says
Celia: Please show me, with evidence, exactly which septic tanks are creating problems. Our drain field is more than 100 feet away from the ICW, and is regularly maintained. We have never had raw sewage in our yard as you have suggested. Your beloved Palm Coast has pep tanks, that when it rains hard, and the power goes out, the tanks back up and flow raw sewage onto the ground. This raw sewage can runoff into canals, then to the ICW. After a heavy rain, the runoff from PC to the ICW is disgusting. This, to you, is “sanitized and civilized.” No, it just another way to collect 25% more dollars from us than from you. For this, Palm Coast wants us to install these pep tanks, which would allow raw sewage runoff directly into the ICW during a storm. Laterals will have to be installed through our oaks, which may ruin several of them. The oaks are what filter and absorb drain field water. Larger pipes will need to be install down our dirt roads, that, of course, will need to be blacktopped, and more oaks cut down for that.
I thought you were for preserving the Hammock.
By the way, a good portion of the Hammock is on Dunes sewer system.
I’m waiting for the data from you. Please be specific. Maybe your beloved Pontieri can provide you with this verified data.
CELIA PUGLIESE says
Laurel first of all stop your lies conspiracies regarding the PC pep tanks anywhere close to the ICW or canals and research first here you have the map locations way over west of I-95 ! http://docs.palmcoastgov.com/departments/gis/maps/pep%20system%20map.pdf. Second Decades ago I lived in a house with a pep tank in that area and thru hurricanes and all only rung the alarm once! Also all your falsehoods of what a pep tank is, so get informed first!https://www.facebook.com/PalmCoastGov/photos/a.188025591232020/3412947462073134/?paipv=0&eav=AfYkYajjlBKOTXZaM0CXhkn0uPrGNSsWaG5DalesjFhxprkJJVP4K0iiWqSyI5TfZVg
When lost power : https://www.facebook.com/PalmCoastGov/posts/utilities-pep-tank-and-lost-power-it-is-especially-important-for-residents-with-/3413017802066100/.
Regarding any sewer spills out of your leaching septic tanks fields in your Hammock you need to do your own research specially with every hurricane as was wildly reported by the media as now I have more important things to do…Maybe you are to ask your beloved Skibum’s help for that…By the way what about using your real ID other than come out hit/punch and hide, like few others do there ? Do you also use also a light color hoodie to hide?
Laurel says
Celia: First of all, I know a lot of people in the utilities department of Palm Coast. Pep tanks are known to overflow.
Second, you have not provided the data I requested regarding “…sewer spill out of your leaching septic tanks fields in your Hammock…”
Third, “lies, “conspiracies,” and hiding under a hoodie is more of your uncalled for sarcasm, that just doesn’t work. Flagler Live knows exactly who I am, and knows my opinions. That’s all that matters on this site. Your hostility is a bit too much.
BLINDSPOTTING says
Celia: the make believe dems who claim that they care.
Hammock Huck says
Oh, by the way, before the YANKS migrated here for brighter pastures, Palm Coast was mostly a swamp for mud-bogging, and great hunting land. Thanks!
BLINDSPOTTING says
Hammock Huck: I often wonder as I read comments like yours and your
berating words “YANKS” and “LEAVE” of what makes people like YOU
feel so special , self entitled and better then others. We have people from
all over the U.S. and other countries that move to PC: California, Texas,
Canada, Portugal, Cuba, etc and they are also coming to your neck of
your 3 mile strip as much as you would not like for it to happen. Here
we have most of the comments trying to help people and you
take out your banjo.
palmcoaster says
I like the banjo image but you just forgot the empty beer cans disposed around to complete Huck in the Hammock displays! Typical prejudist resentful dweller leaving in the strip of land left to them between the rich Hammock Dunes or Ocean Hammock and saved by Scenic Protected Hwy A1A. Always undermining Palmcoasters. Better watch it we are over 100.000 already and not piled up in a narrow strip of land prone to flood with every cane! Never mind new higher construction in Palm Coast as pretty soon the ICW can become our new ocean front with climate change doing away with the barrier island..! Why you so concerned with Palm Coast when your live in the Hammock guys?
Laurel says
Palmcoaster: Because PC runoff to the ICW is not good, and will get worse with development.
I gotta say, I have tried to give people some advice here, and I am a bit disillusioned by the hostility of the comments here. There is a problem, for sure, but come on, folks, stop attacking! Your problems will not be solved by name calling or sarcasm.
Also, it’s a bit stunning how little people understand the Hammock and it’s ecosystem. Whitney Lab, by Marineland, often has lectures regarding the area. https://www.whitney.ufl.edu/
JimboXYZ says
Alfin has to go, he’s just got too much real estate skin in the game to be doing anything more than ruining Palm Coast & Flagler County with his growth agenda. Very much like Holland & her splash pad in a park named coincidentally, Holland Park. we can only hope the county doesn’t vote Klufas into the county government. Klufas is/was a supporter of that stupid splash pad as well. There, I said it, I named the names. I’m sure there are a couple more self proclaimed experts & politicians that have been behind the Biden Build Back Better lies of 2021-present.
With this, it doesn’t matter if there is a swale or not that even functions as intended, but here we are, paying more for stormwater runoff in Palm Coast Utility billings every month.
Denali says
Back in 2010 the city had “CITY OF PALM COAST TECHNICAL MANUAL
ENGINEERING DESIGN STANDARDS” Drawing 200A showed typical lot drainage plans. Each sample layout clearly shows how lots are to be graded with interior swales – none are shown to be pushing storm water off on a side lot neighbor. In 2015 a new house was built next to us with a floor elevation about a foot above our house. In a conversation with the builder he brought up the elevation difference and stated that the city would require him to construct a swale on his property to move the rain water to the street. He did and we never had an issue. We also had about 25 feet between the houses.
Section 300.01 of the same document states that ‘The proposed slopes on the property shall not exceed 4:1 and all slopes must adjoin existing property lines at no greater than a 4:1. Slopes along developable vacant lots shall have a stabilized slope of no greater than 2:1 in expectation that the vacant lot will be graded to match the adjoining property elevation.” These grading limitations will automatically limit the floor elevation of any new house.
It would be interesting to hear the city position on these requirements.
TREEMAN says
STOP issuing building permits until the grade heights are coded!
pete says
YES Stop it all. This is a bunch of bull
Tom M says
When a new home was being built next to me I was told by a city inspector that the the platform was 1′ above the centerline of the road as required by the present building code. BUT the homes that were built 20 years ago were not built to that code and no one has used common sense to make modifications to it to ease the flooding problems it has created. Incidentally the drainage trench between the properties runs right into a telephone pole and some other utility boxes in the ground. Looks like a dam to me !!! Who inspected that ???
Mike d says
City council is a joke!!!
Patricia Thomasey says
The city is in the builders back pocket. They are destroying the real estate market by allowing the market to be flooded with new homes. We are going to crash just like in 2008! I agree, vote the Mayor out!
CELIA PUGLIESE says
What can you expect we have more than one developers lobbyist in the city payroll!
Greg says
The city has changed its mind here. Same happened to me 4 years ago. New house about 6”” higher than mine. I started getting runoff that I never had. The city made the owner put a small swale in his yard, so the water would run to the back and to the front of his property. There used to be a city ordnance that the lawns needed to match up. Check it out. Either way, it’s time to vote Alfin and the boys out. But be ashured, as republicans, they will be voted back in.
Old Guy says
My home in the F section was built in the late 70s early 80s time frame. Back then the grading requirements were very different. We bought our home in 1992 and have seen our back yard flood with every torrential rain since then. Until recent years the lot behind us was undeveloped and luckily storms since that home was built have not made our flooding any worse than it has always been. I can understand the newer homes being built higher but they should be required to install measures to positively move their runoff to the front of the lot. The older homes next door or behind them should be taken into account by the city.
Joey G says
Working for a local builder about 25 years ago here in palm coast, what we did was set up the transit and measure the height of the homes adjacent to the property we were building on even vacant land, we looked at that height also. We would set the home accordingly as to drain onto someones else’s property. I don’t know we never had an isssue. You could fail a swale inspection if you were a 1/4 inch out. Now a days these guys do this all by eye no transit is ever set up for a final grade. Yea come back and check that home in 2 years when the dirt erodes a little bit to find the grade is pouring water onto your home, no longer is it going to the swale.
These people really don’t care we all know that cause if they did they would do something ASAP.
John says
They really don’t care and what’s the end game here of relentless building of all the new neighborhoods ?
Samuel L. Bronkowitz says
When I first purchased here, my lot was surrounded by woods and was built to code. Recently, the lot behind and to the right to me was purchased, a home was built, and the final permit was given. The owner discovered a massive flooding issue with it, took the builder to task, and ended up having to fix it himself because you guessed it – it was already approved and the home was sold. We both watched as the lot directly behind us was cleared and a house went up, with a flooding issue that would have water on my property because it wasn’t properly leveled. We both called several times, inspectors came out and shook their heads, the builder leveled, and leveled, but didn’t really do anything to fix the issue. Finally, someone came out and just rubber stamped it leaving the problem up to the homeowner because technically most of the water went to the front.
Am I surprised? No. This is the same city that I called over illegal dumping on a lot, with pictures and video of the of the dumper, only to be told that they didn’t care but please tell them which lot it was so they could fine the owner of the lot because there’s trash that needs to be cleaned up.
Charles says
The City of PC has no rules when it comes to building homes, they let you build whatever you want and how tall you want even if all the other homes on the street are one story. It is an eye sore to see that in single family homes and then a three-story house on the sae block.
Does the City care that other homes are getting flooded NO, the City could care less. It is time to clean house in the City and get people in there that know how to run a city correctly.
PC Dave says
The problem is the City of Palm Coast. They don’t take care of the existing swale system (drive through any neighborhood and see how many pipes under driveways are blocked by the grass), and they are not addressing this issue at all. Shrugging their shoulders and saying “it was built legally, there is nothing we can do” is an utter lie. The city is responsable for storm water runoff. Grading can be done, swales between properties, retention ponds, there are plenty of answers to these problems. The city needs to take their lips off these developer’s asses long enough to tell them they will have to pay additional impact fees to help fund updating the city’s storm water system.
Jane Gentile-Youd says
I’d like to see Sheriff Staly agree that the Green Roof Inn should be filled with criminals in Palm Coast who approve any destruction of any existing property owners legal rights! There is no exception in any governing agency to blatantly LIE to their constituents. There is NO provision in any state statute, nor in any bill of rights that ‘protects’ the ‘new’ home builder from inflicting physical damage to any adjoining property. Any competent civil engineer would insist that the ‘new’ builder must , at their expense, install whatever drainage on every inch of their property and test if that drainage is SUFFICIENT to protect the existing adjoining properties. ” There is nothing we can do ” in my opiniion is enough to send them to the GreenRoof Inn and we tell them ” There is nothing we can do !
My heart goes out to everyone whose back yards are flooding due to new homes – are due to builders having to meet new insurance standards regardless if they destroy the neighboring home ( which could be insured by the same company) is beyond insane in my opinion and more than grounds to fire any employee and recall any council person ( a privilege you have in Palm Coast which we County ‘only’ voters do not) who violates your legal rights to enjoyment of your existing property ( which met all codes in effect when it was built).
I don’t have a law degree but I hope you all get together and get yourselves a super land use attorney ( who is also an expert in criminal law..) who is ready willing and able wake these idiots ( my opinion) fast or file a big fat Class Action lawsuit against them.
What is happening to a government ‘of the people, by the people, for the people”? Very very sad and very very scary.
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
Want to get Alfin and the Council moving a little quicker on looking at the current regulations? All those affected get in on a class action suit against Palm Coast and maybe they’ll move a little faster, I’m sure there’s a Lawyer just waiting to do this. I’m sure there will be plenty of finger pointing from the top down.
On a side note Theresa seems to actually seem to care about the residents, Mayor in her future?
TR says
Nephew, I sure wish I could find a lawyer that will take on a city. I have called 4 in the past three months (when I find a minute to call because I have a business to run) and they all have told me their not interested and give me this 800 number to call for legal advice. When I call I go through the recorded message for about 15 minutes to press one for this, press three for this and then please hold. After another 5 minutes a new recorded message comes on saying all attorney’s are busy and for me to leave mu name and number for some to call me back. It’s been 2 weeks and I’m still waiting.
BLINDSPOTTING says
TR: You need to get a lawyer outside of Flagler County, most of the lawyers
here are lawyered up with the city/county especially since Hadeed is not
capable of doing his job , makes a giant salary, and is always hiring
outside attorney’s to do his job therefore the lawyers here may not want
to get involved, I can think of maybe one attorney who repesents the
the Hammock community is a wonderful attorney. We got our attorney
from Orlando , you just need to make some calls about the right ones who
represent these types of cases . Also thanks for the great info on the
peptic tanks, that is good to know.
Laurel says
Isn’t it great when realtors run your city and county?
The fact of the matter is, each property owner is responsible for retaining rain runoff on their property. The whole thing about building from back to front is nonsense. Whether it’s digging a swale all around the borders, putting in rain gardens and rain barrels, they are responsible, and liable, for runoff onto their neighbor’s property. Apparently, the city is not telling you that. Palm Coast is low land area, basically swamp, but the current lenience for builders have exasperated the problem. What they could have done, was require the builders to build up on footers in lieu of extra fill.
Laurel says
Yeah, I wrote “footer.” I did mean stemwall. We built a four foot stemwall and did not change the elevation of our property. Now, our neighbors will not flood by us, and if we flood, it will pass under. A new neighbor is building a home on the same elevation, but up on stilts. That is how the new builds should be: on stemwalls or stilts. By doing this, everyone wins, except maybe the developer who has to make sure the ground is properly compacted, and the soil compactable. If not, the developer would need to dig out the current soil and replace it with a better, compactable soil. So…
Brattlike says
My husband has called the town for the same issue at our home in the R section and like everyone else they came and inspected and did nothing about it and we have a swamp in our backyard now because of the house being built behind us and they never put up the silt barrier either and when we asked about that we were told that is to avoid run off but not into your property. So after a year and the house behind us is still not completed and we still have a swampy back yard that my dogs don’t want to go out in. This is absolutely wrong and the City of Palm Coast does not care at all.
Laurel says
Brattlike: Technically they are correct about silk barriers. Silk barriers are put in place to prevent soil and debris runoff into waters of the state, and U.S. However, the homeowner is responsible for the rain runoff to your yard. Now, what bothers me is that it seems that all the responsibility is placed on the homeowner AFTER the house is C.O.’d, and the developer gets away scot free. That is clearly wrong. The developer should foot the responsibility, and when done right, and then gone, then passed onto the new homeowner should the homeowner change the elevations. Sounds to me like the developers are getting away it.
TR says
The city should hold the builder responsible before the homeowner takes possession of the house and the CO is issued.
James says
Humm… if the newer homes are built at a higher elevation, what about sewer water? Could that also be a problem down the road (or should I say pipe) for the existing surrounding homes?
Not to mention water pressure problems for all?
Just some interesting questions… nothing more.
Laurel says
James: Because Florida is flat, and has low elevations, sewer must be piped by gravity for a distance, then hit a lift station to be pumped back up to a higher elevation again, and on, and on, until it gets to the treatment plant. Palm Coast, however, is low elevation and high water table. So, houses have their own lift stations known as pep tanks or grinders. Then the gravity thing starts. The really bad news is, these pep tanks run on electricity and when the electricity goes out, add to that heavy rain, the lift station action stops and the sewage backs up often overflowing onto the homeowners’ properties, then to canals, then to the ICW. Terrible plan!
TR says
This may be true with the older homes. But the newer homes have a new system where when the power goes out the city comes and hooks up a generator to the alarm box on the side of the house to operate the pep tank.
They are suppose to be changing any old alarm boxes to the newer ones when the pep tank has to be replaced for whatever reason. I had to have mine done about 5 years ago because the tank split at the seam from being old, (it was installed in 1986 when the house was built) and they changed out the alarm box also so I questioned the reasoning behind it and that’s what I was told by the supervisor on the job.
Laurel says
TR: In south Florida it is common place to have generators at lift stations, or bring generators to lift stations, not so much to pep tanks. Actually, pep tanks are rather rare there. I think Port St. Lucie had that problem. Port St. Lucie has, in many areas, the same kind of terrain as Palm Coast. They have been battling drainage problems for years. They may be good people for answers.
Now that sea levels are rising, and flooding is happening in areas of south Florida where it never flooded before, the problem will become exasperated. I know people who houses flooded during a rain event that never flooded previously. That’s why I worry about PC, as it gets over built with impervious areas, and fills, and removal of trees to absorb moisture, people are going to be battling this for sometime to come.
Steve says
Did the same thing to our backyard of the house in the E section when I lived there. Due to new construction. Called them out they did nothing. Told me not to do anything. Another neighbor and I fixed it anyway. Alot of dirt and work it flowed into the preserve beautifully again lol
Frustrated Owner says
Remember this during election time. These cronies are clearly of the party which promotes less government. Clearly they are doing less, yet they voted themselves an increase in pay. Great job … getting more pay for less work!!! What we don’t have are people running that care for the community, instead of their pockets.
Laurel says
I think I wrote footer, if I did, I meant stemwall.
Jairo Castro says
It doesn’t make sense at all. This is like Lot Improvement 101, and the first thing you learn when prepping a site for construction. I see this happening with new construction in our area (L Section). When the filing goes forward for permitting on new homes, the city has the first opportunity to review and address this. All you need to do is to look at a proposed site plan which shows grade contours to check on runoff and drainage. ‘Where would the stormwater go?’ So who’s looking, and if so, also failing to see this mistake? Now, if it’s not caught in the permitting stage, then the contractor regrading the site is the next entity responsible to ‘know better’. Are they avoiding removal of fill from lots because of the potential high costs and just grading everything higher because they don’t want to remove all that fill? That might be a motive.
Chris says
we built our house in March 1999. We were told that the property behind us to the south would remain a Preserve. Years pass & they build 3 homes on this Preserve off Whippoorwill , at the elevation of Whippoorwill, which leaves us getting all their water runoff in our backyards. One of the homes even had the pool drain water going into my neighbors backyard under her fence! I found it by taking a ladder & looking over, there was the drain! This has been going on for years. She complained to the county, they come out & do some song & dance & told her there was a “existing” road on the Preserve, so they had every right to build there. I have 2 maps that show there was never a existing road. We put in a sub-pump to move all the water up front. It’s not only us, its also effects the 3 houses next to us. Then our neighbors house, to the north, 3rd house, a builder came in & built behind her with over a foot higher elevation from her backyard. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see how we’re being flooded. Yes, she’s emailed the county & crickets.
L Richards says
I am a Palm Coast resident living in the “L” section but I’ve lived and worked in five states from Alaska to Florida.
My job is the stormwater manager for Flagler Beach and we have similar problems in numerous areas of the City. Our code is being rewritten at the present time but I can relate what we do to try and mitigate these flooding situations. First, we restrict all grading to 3:1 or less slopes; second, we restrict fill and grading such that the new grade cannot be more than six inches higher where it meets the adjacent properties (if the finish is sod, over time that usually settles down a few inches anyway); third, if the property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) or an “AE” zone on the FIRM map, the contractor is limited to no more than 50 CY outside of the building footprint or the driveway footprint – this typically requires a stem wall where the amount of fill inside the stem wall is unlimited to bring the house to the approved Finished Floor Elevation (FFE); finally, the grading and stormwater management plan must show on the site plan submitted with the permit application. If necessary, local detention areas and swales are used to keep runoff onto individual properties.
The net result is that, before a CO is issued, the grade on a new construction site should be very close to the adjacent properties and not shed runoff onto them. This is what we strive to do. But, heavy rain events deposit enough water to often overpower the local stormwater plans. Mother Nature will play havoc on even the best plans and we need to accept that this is the price we pay to live in this glorious place called Flagler County, Florida.
Land of no turn signals says says
Come on ! city is turning a blind eye that’s just cookie talk.
Jeanne says
huh…………………..I thought I was alone with this problem. I sold the lot next to mine in 2022 and I wish I never sold it!!! The builder built this huge house, and he not only built it 3 feet higher than my property, he practically built it right on top of my house. There is literally 10 feet between my garage wall and their garage wall. 6 other houses were built on my street at the same time, by different builders, and they didn’t make the fill as high as the one next to me. They just put in a “burn” and made it 10 times worse so now I can’t even mow and my air conditioner is underwater every time it rains.
Carol says
I have noticed this happening all over Flagler Beach also. I’ve wondered “How is this legal?” And wondered, “Why aren’t the neighbors in low lying (50 year old properties) complaining?”
Maybe they are, and they have no (soggy) ground to stand on. It doesn’t sound fair to me.
Palm Coast Blah, Another Orlando Burb says
Palm Coast only cares about money. Constantly tearing down trees everywhere to build everything plus the added traffic doesn’t matter to them. The “City” of Palm Coast really does not care. Make sure you mow your lawn though and don’t park your work vehicle in your driveway. Palm Coast is just a large HOA. It’s becoming like a suburb of Orlando.
melly says
We live in Seminole Woods in a newer neighborhood off Sesame Blvd. Virtually all of the houses on the north side of the first section of Slumber Meadow Tr are built on ‘high ground’ (relative to the area from the street) while the south side houses are lower. But even the south side houses are built up. Once you turn the corner on the end of that first section, however, the houses are older and most are lower. During recent rains, everybody from 44 to the southwest (46 and higher) saw backyard flooding. This isn’t even running off others’ properties, it’s just poorly planned and built out, period. I shudder to think what our yard is going to look like after a hurricane, I can probably make like I’ve got an in-ground pool. IMO, that whole section of Slumber Meadow is going to flood big time at some point.
Laurel says
Flagler Beach cannot help it too much, the city goes from dunes to swamp. Palm Coast is swampland to begin with, and it should never have been built to the extent it is now. The county is not much better. Both the county and PC tend to turn a blind eye to problems. Here in the Hammock, plans for Bronx Pizza should never have passed they way they did. There is not enough parking for customers, so they park illegally perpendicular to A1A, on top of what is supposed to be a swale, compacting it. The swale is meant to prevent runoff from A1A, but instead, it runs down, heavily, 17th Street pooling at cross streets and people’s properties. Also, the illegally parked cars (cars are supposed to park parallel to the road, and not on swales) reduce visibility dramatically. Same with Bartlett’s on the other side of 17th. We were almost hit twice trying to get out onto A1A.
Do you see the county care? They know what’s there.
Linda says
Stem walls would go a long way to prevent further problems. As the years go by, the height elevation of houses have gone up. When we built our home, it was between two houses built in the late 70’s, to a bldg. code that had to be at least 5 ft. above sea level. The new code when we built was 6 ft. There was no way we would have just put in a foot of fill dirt one foot higher. We opted for a stemwall, which basically starts with a footer being poured at virgin ground level, then blocks are laid forming a wall up to the finished slab elevattion. The city might not have a code for fill dirt, but I’m sure you are not able to build so that you flood your neighbor’s yard and home. That is probably a civil suit against the builder or owner. GOOGLE: STEM WALL
CELIA PUGLIESE says
https://docs.palmcoastgov.com/departments/community-development/ldc-technical-manual/section%205%20-%20engineering.pdf Denali above, suggested to look at this technical manual, unless the city ignores or changed it? ? I am just guessing as I am not and engineer to understand this tech manual book
BLINDSPOTTING says
Thank you Flagler Live for breaking this story, the squeaky wheel does
ger the grease! Maybe there is some hope for these homeowners and
maybe they will get some resolve. The city has put together a task force
to review each residence on a case to case basis. The residents who are
affected need to contact the city and the city is reviewing its Land
Development Code and the lack height regulations according to stormwater
deputy director Lynn Stevens.