Soil and Drainage Concerns
According to the USDA, the soil on this property has poor drainage. The previous owner, a farmer, recognized this issue and managed it by creating ditches to move water off the fields. Because the land slopes toward Burton Road, water often pooled along — and even over — the roadway until DelDOT later installed ditches and underground piping to redirect it into the local waterway, the Pemberton Branch.
The proposed development would be built as a swale community, meaning there will be no holding ponds to retain stormwater. Instead, all water from the streets and rooftops would be expected to infiltrate into the ground — despite the soil’s documented poor drainage. As water naturally follows the path of least resistance, excess runoff would impact:
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The local clearwater stream, home to diverse and sensitive wildlife and plant species.
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Adjacent properties, including land protected by The Nature Conservancy.
This raises serious concerns about flooding, environmental damage, and long-term sustainability of the proposed development.
The culvert shown in the photo was installed by DelDOT specifically to relieve flooding on Burton Road in front of the proposed development site. For years, the previous owner/farmer managed the land with ditches, and later a builder constructed homes on top of those ditches. Because of these efforts, flooding has not been a major issue in recent years.
However, the new development plans raise serious concerns. The USDA has documented that this soil does not absorb water well. Without proper retention systems, stormwater will be unable to infiltrate the ground and will instead flow downhill toward Burton Road. This runoff threatens to:
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Disrupt the delicate stream ecosystem nearby, which supports numerous plant and animal species.
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Cause flooding on adjacent properties, including protected land owned by The Nature Conservancy.
To protect local waterways, wildlife, and neighboring lands, it is vital that this development proposal be denied.
