ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — An Ormond Beach man claims a recently rebuilt home next door is causing his property to flood. Over the last year, William Latella’s driveway started cracking and sinking.
▶ WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS
His deck also caved in, and his fence is being help up by stakes in the ground.
“The house next door is three feet higher so there is nowhere for that water to go except in my yard,” said Latella.
He gave Eyewitness News a copy of the building permit that said no water runoff should impact adjacent properties.
Read: ‘What a legacy’: Florida remembers former governor, U.S. senator Bob Graham
“It is affecting my property in more ways than one,” said Latella.
A spokesperson from the city of Ormond Beach tells Eyewitness News the home next door on Mcintosh Road was reconstructed through the Florida Rebuild Program and the owner moved back in May of last year. Since then, the city has added drains along the fence line and gutters to the north side of the home. But Latella said it isn’t helping.
“Every time it rains, I have 2, 3 inches of water in my yard that never flooded. I have pictures going back to Harvey and I never had these issues,” said Latella.
Read: Federal lawsuit accuses former motel of profiting from sex trafficking
He feels for the homeowner next door who had to wait eight years to get the work done but because he is disabled and retired, even minor damage has become significant.
“I am not looking for anything free, anything extra. Just make my property to where it is useable again. I shouldn’t have to worry every time it rains. That is the sad part and that’s pretty much what I do,” said Latella.
The city said the flooding issues are now a civil dispute between two neighbors.
Read: Orlando Magic’s first-round playoffs schedule announced by NBA
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2024 Cox Media Group
