Island County Housing Authority’s new pride and joy in Freeland is once again raising the ire of neighbors.

Following heavy rains last week, Sunny View Village, a $6.3-million affordable housing project still under construction, was blamed for shuttling stormwater onto an adjacent property. Warren and Minda Wicher allege the problem is the result of an issue with the development’s catchment system and retention pond as water pouring from an outfall is collecting on the northeast corner of their six-acre lot.

Sunny View and its property is located between Scenic Avenue and Highway 525.

The Wichers say they voiced concerns about the potential problem early on in the development’s planning stages and are not pleased with the emerging problem.

“I predicted this,” Warren Wicher said, motioning to the flooded area of his property.

“I’m all for growth, but not this,” he added.

Teri Anania, executive director for the Housing Authority, could not be reached by press time.

According to a construction supervisor who was inspecting the area this week, the catchment system is working properly, but the problem lies with missing infrastructure along the state highway.

“The water was designed to flow down to a ditch that’s not there,” said Gary Hays, superintendent Veteran’s NW Construction.

While the Wichers claim the flooding is a new problem, Hays said he couldn’t verify whether that’s indeed the case. If true, however, he said a fix will be required. New developments are not allowed to dump stormwater onto neighboring properties. A solution may require the state’s involvement, and could take months to address, he said.

The crux of the issue and determining any future action will likely hinge on whether or not this is really a new problem, according to Quin Clements, vice president of Freeland-based Davido Consulting Group, the engineering firm that designed the development.

Topographical maps and aerial photography indicate that the affected area is a natural water collection point, said Clements, and that makes it doubtful that the property hasn’t suffered from flooding in the past.

“The problem is the low spot is their property,” Clements said.

There isn’t much the Housing Authority, as developers, can do to address a natural problem on adjacent private property, he said. Clements was expected to meet with John Bertrand, development coordinator for Island County Public Works, to discuss the issue.

Bertrand performed Sunny View’s drainage review for the development’s site plan review. He said it’s still too early to tell whether corrective or mitigating measures will be required as it’s not yet clear what or where the problem lies.

Built by the Housing Authority, Sunny View aims to provide workforce and low-income housing for South Whidbey. Eighteen units are designated for families who make 50 and 60 percent below the area median income — about $36,000 at 50 percent — and seven units are reserved for homeless housing. One unit will house an onsite property manager.

The project has been in the works for years and been plagued with hurdles. Unpopular with many in the Freeland area, the project was heavily criticized for its cost and chosen location, and was nearly derailed in 2013 for sewage treatment requirements. The development was bogged down with permitting headaches for years and the source of a finding by the state Auditor’s Office last year.

Most recently, Maxwelton resident Rufus Rose, Minda Wicher’s father, raised concerns about pedestrian safety,

Rose has been a vocal critic of the new development, arguing against its placement off Scenic Road.

Both he and Minda Wicher attended the commissioner’s meeting Monday and complained about the flooding. Much of the criticism was focused on Island County Commissioner Helen Price Johnson.

“I’m asking you to do the right thing and stop sticking it to us,” Minda Wicher said.

Rose told the board that the development’s infiltration system was broken, causing adjacent wetland to be diverted onto his daughter’s land.

“Obviously it’s not working and damaging a neighbor’s property,” Rose said. “The development is required to correct the problem they have created.”

Price Johnson, who represents south and central Whidbey Island, said she would follow up with staff to find out what mitigation measures were built into the permitting process.

After the meeting adjourned, Rose had strong words for Price Johnson because he said she was not being responsive enough to their concerns.

“You’re not an empress, Helen,” Rose said while still seated in the audience.

Price Johnson left the hearing room when attempts to discuss the matter were dismissed by Rose.

“I don’t want to hear what you have to say,” Rose said.