LONGWOOD, Fla. – The woman accused of intentionally filling a pipe with concrete, causing weeks of flooding in Longwood’s Shadow Bay neighborhood, has been given 10 days to fix the drainage system.
The ruling Thursday was part of a civil action that attorneys representing the Shadow Bay Homeowners Association filed in June.
That’s separate from the code enforcement hearing last week where the woman was given a deadline to fix the damage by Oct. 1 or face a daily $250 fine.
However, neighbors asked the judge in the civil hearing to order an immediate fix, saying the repairs can’t wait.
The injunction hearing began Wednesday just after 11 a.m. with the HOA president giving testimony and resumed Thursday afternoon during which the judge said the homeowner has 10 days to fix the drainage system, and she has to cover costs.
“I am so grateful that we received the temporary injunction. I think things will help a lot. I wish it was sooner, but we’re still getting action so that’s very positive,” said Shadow Bay resident, Jennell Taylor.
The judge also said that if the homeowner does not fix the pipe within the 10-day window, the county or another authorized agent will handle repairs, but she will still have to pay for it.
“It’s relief, relief for all these homeowners who have been stressed, they’ve lost sleep, you know, they’re worried about their own safety. So, it’s major for them,” said Barbara Billiot Stage, the attorney representing Shadowbay Club Homeowners’ Association.
In March, the woman went door to door with a letter, telling neighbors about her plans to plug the pipe. She claimed the drain, which was installed long before she bought her home in 2012 according to records, was put on her property without permission. The letter went on to state that if someone didn’t do something about it or provide her with compensation then she would fill it with concrete.
[TIMELINE: Flooding in Shadow Bay neighborhood]
County staff made subsequent trips to the neighborhood where they saw water flooding the streets. Several neighbors have also spoken to News 6 about the problems they face driving and walking around their neighborhood and their worry that the floodwaters would soon damage the road and their homes.
In July, code enforcement issued a citation for the plugged pipe, saying it damaged the drainage system. A deadline was given for the homeowner to take corrective action, but it passed without the problem being fixed.
After listening to testimony from county staff, as well as the homeowner and her attorney, the magistrate during the code enforcement hearing said her decision was made in part because the pipes that are now diverted into an easement and dump into a stormwater pond behind the homes in Shadow Bay are all part of the same system, which is now damaged.
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