Darby Farms Residents Raise Concerns Over Detention Pond Maintenance

New Lenox Village Board Meeting | November 10, 2025

Article Summary: A resident of the Woodlong Avenue area addressed the New Lenox Village Board with ongoing concerns about the maintenance, appearance, and drainage of a large water detention basin in the adjacent Darby Farms subdivision. Village staff committed to meeting with the resident and developer M/I Homes to address the issues.

Darby Farms Key Points:

• Resident Timothy McCutchen described the detention area behind his home as a “swamp” with issues of smell, cleanup, and improper grading.

• Village staff acknowledged the concerns and are working with the developer, M/I Homes, to create a timeline for cleanup.

• The village is holding a financial surety from the developer, which can be used to complete the work if M/I Homes fails to do so.

A New Lenox resident from West Woodlong Avenue on Monday, November 10, 2025, asked the Village Board for help in addressing persistent issues with a water detention area in the neighboring Darby Farms subdivision.

Timothy McCutchen, who said his home was built before the M/I Homes development was approved, described the basin behind his property as a “swamp.” He cited four years of unresolved problems, including unpleasant odors, lack of cleanup, and grading issues that he believes are causing water to flow toward, not away from, residents’ homes.

“We’re afraid that our concerns are not being taken and M/I Homes is going to be gone and we’re going to be stuck with something that looks like a swamp,” McCutchen told the board.

Village Administrator Kurt and Public Works official Will Nash responded, stating they have been in communication with the developer. They explained the basin is designed as a “native pond” with natural plantings, which has a different appearance than a manicured pond. However, they acknowledged the residents have legitimate concerns.

“I’m working on a timeline with the developer to clean this stuff up,” said Nash, listing leftover construction stakes and wiring as items on the punch list.

Mayor Tim Baldermann assured McCutchen that the village holds a financial surety from M/I Homes. “They’re not going to want to leave without their money,” Baldermann said. “We have the money then to clean up…if they for whatever reason don’t meet what they have to do.”

Village staff committed to scheduling an on-site meeting with McCutchen, his neighbors, and representatives from M/I Homes to review the problems firsthand.