DAPHNE, Ala. — With six members present at Thursday’s planning commission meeting, every vote counted. A preliminary plat review for a west Daphne subdivision needed six votes to pass but public concerns about flooding and maintenance apparently affected the ultimately negative vote.

The preliminary plat review for Paradiso subdivision — a 12-acre plot located between Main Street and Mobile Bay, adjacent to Jackson Oak Drive — failed 5-1.

Planning Commissioner Cathy Barnette cast the lone dissenting vote; Commissioners DeLeon Thomas and Fred Small were absent.

Paradiso developers had proposed a water treatment system for the 17-lot neighborhood that would filter 90 percent of sediment from storm water before it could enter Mobile Bay. Though the system would be the primary drainage tool though construction, retention ponds also would be used.

Charlie Johnson of Wood and Partners — which also landscaped the Grand Hotel in Point Clear — explained that the gated community lacked a fence design, but the divider wouldn’t prevent drainage because it would have a perforated bottom, adding pipes underneath or by raising it so that water can flow beneath it.

These measures failed to quell concerns.

“There is already a tremendous amount of water that flows down our culvert, around my house and to the south. You can’t imagine how much water we’re talking about unless you live there,” she said.

Another concern among planning commissioners and residents was the ever-present threat of hurricanes.

“It sounds like it (the water treatment system) would be easily overwhelmed,” Planning Commission Chairman Jeff Carrico said.

“During Katrina that area flooded 11 feet and the wave action was 12 to 18 feet,” Frank Galloney said.

He also expressed concern about maintenance after such an event.

“What are they going to do, come in quarterly and clean the sand out?” he said.

Also Thursday, planning commissioners unanimously approved the preliminary plat review for Daphne Business Park Unit III — a 31-acre parcel with eight lots located southeast of U.S. Highway 98 and Stanton Road — pending submission of the irrigation plan.