Cibolo residents upset over homebuilders' projects
 The sound of hard rainfall and the clap of thunder reverberated outside City Hall here July 24 as a dozen residents complained to City Council about rainwater damage to their new homes and what they called poor drainage and construction methods by homebuilders. "We are back again with the same problems and issue," Ahmad told the Cibolo council. "We are finding (house damage) problems are more prevalent than we first thought. These residents are not looking for a lawsuit, they are just looking for some help because something went wrong with these developments and the common problem is they have no drainage easements. Drainage was an after thought with these builders," she said.

Cibolo residents upset over homebuilders' projects 
07/30/2007
Chuck McCollough
Express-News

CIBOLO — The sound of hard rainfall and the clap of thunder reverberated outside City Hall here July 24 as a dozen residents complained to City Council about rainwater damage to their new homes and what they called poor drainage and construction methods by homebuilders.

It was their second trip to City Hall in a very rainy July.

Cibolo resident Susie Meador said the value of her new home has dropped $47,000 because of drainage and foundation issues.

"I was here at the July 11 council meeting and now again to tell you about this," she said.

Meador and other residents made their comments during the "Citizens to be Heard" part of the meeting where council members cannot comment on what residents say.

Cibolo resident James Winslow said: "You know there is something wrong when the construction manager for your home justifies poor quality as standard for tract homes. You know there's something wrong when the homebuilder offers to repair the same problem three times while telling you nothing is wrong. Builders are the caretakers of the American dream (of owning a home) and should be held accountable," Winslow said, adding he wants his builder to correct the problems or buy back his house.

Winslow said the way a city can hold a homebuilder accountable is to not let irresponsible builders build in their town.

Janet Ahmad of Home Owners for Better Building urged the Cibolo council to follow the lead of Live Oak, which is reviewing its procedures for dealing with residential construction.

"We are back again with the same problems and issue," Ahmad told the Cibolo council. "We are finding (house damage) problems are more prevalent than we first thought. These residents are not looking for a lawsuit, they are just looking for some help because something went wrong with these developments and the common problem is they have no drainage easements. Drainage was an afterthought with these builders," she said.

"The purpose of the city in this case is to oversee subdivisions and make sure that water is carried away from property and that it doesn't run on the neighbors' property, because that causes foundation damage," Ahmad said.

"Cibolo residents with these problems are starting to picket their homebuilder just like people with similar problems in Live Oak. This movement is going forward. We want cities to do a better job of watching out for homeowners and make sure homebuilders are doing the right thing regarding drainage and other issues," she said.
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