DAPHNE, Ala. — North Winding Brook  residents before the issue was tabled aired views about the Daphne Utilities Board’s plans to develop part of 19 acres of savanna that border the east side of Village Drive.

Board President Robert Segalla said at the meeting Wednesday that the plan was to carve out four acres to build three home sites; the remaining 15 acres of wetlands would be preserved in a conservation trust. Originally, the plan was to sell the property to a developer; the proposed contract would stipulate that if the 15 acres were not protected, the property would revert to the board’s ownership.

Developing the property at all, however, isn’t an option, according to residents.

“I just wanted to let you know that we’re against developing this land,” said Denise Browning, president of the Woodmont Homeowners Association, which is affiliated with the North Winding Brook neighborhood.

Residents recognized two major impacts that would result if even a portion of the land is developed.

A thriving ecosystem there is filled with wildlife such as barred owls, woodpeckers and mallards. If the land is developed, the ecosystem would be disrupted, according to one concern.

Another concern raised was the impact on water levels.

“That property is actually moving water,” resident Joe Fontenot said. “It is not a swamp.”

If the land is filled in, the water would begin to flood  into an already troubled, neighboring watershed or onto nearby yards.

“If fill is put into the property, it will either flow into the bay, or raise water levels around it,” Fontenot said.

Some residents said they were also concerned about not being properly notified about the proposed endeavor.

Many residents never received notifications from the Army Corps of Engineers, according to Terry Moore, whose property directly borders the 19 acres.

“I’m shocked that everyone didn’t get notice about this,” Moore said. “We’re really sorry we didn’t get notified.”

Moore asked the board to try to keep everyone involved. Rob McElroy, general manager of Daphne Utilities, was designated as a point of contact for residents to further discuss this matter.

“We’d like to be participants in the solution,” Moore said.

The idea of developing the area has been on the agenda for a year and a half, according to Segalla.

“We’re not ready to go on this right now,” Segalla said. “We want to make sure we’re doing the right thing.”

“We were trying to get some money and also do a good deed,” Segalla said, referring to the partial land preservation.

In other business, the board granted a retiree cost-of-living increase to five retired, Daphne Utilities employees.

One lump sum bonus—of $1 per month for the retiree’s sevice to the utility—will be paid. That means if an employee worked for Daphne Utilities for 30 years, then the bonus would be $360.