Out of Bounds. Periodic Flooding

Transcription

1 Out of Bounds Glenn Brooks, County Engineer;, County Plan Reviewer; Vito Cetta, Out of Bounds developer; and Justin Shimp, Shimp Engineering met with residents of Smithfield Road and Smithfield Court on September 4, 2013 to discuss the new development s stormwater management plan and the runoff impact onto the existing neighborhood s drainage system. We walked through the neighborhood and the residents pointed out drainage problems on several locations south of the Out of Bounds site. See figure 1. This project will be required to follow the Virginia Stormwater Management Regulations. Underground detention basins are proposed on the north and south end of the Out of Bounds property to release at, or better than, the existing peak rates for the 2 year and 10 year storms. Details of the design can be addressed during the site plan phase. However, downstream pipe and channel adequacy was questioned early on in the ZMA application due to the older neighborhoods adjacent to the Out of Bounds property. To remediate the concerns regarding the adequate channel analysis, the developer acquired a 20 drainage easement on TMP 60D-F-8. See figure 2. The runoff from the Out of Bounds property will be directed to a new pipe across TMP 60D-F-8, to an existing pipe under Smithfield Road, then to the existing open channel on, or near, TMP 60-D-H-5. It was also discovered that a county basin exists on the Out of Bounds development, but it is not clear when the basin was constructed. See figure 1. There are existing drainage problems for Smithfield Road residents due to periodic flooding, poor maintenance of open channels, and clogging of inverts. The developer is not obligated to remediate these areas, but the developer could offer to make improvements with the ZMA application. Each issue is discussed in further detail with the possible solutions. See figure 1. Periodic Flooding Periodic flooding is an inherent problem in the neighborhood, where lots and yards are built along a drainage way. The Out of Bounds site will not significantly impact flooding, based on Mr. Shimp s comparison of the contributing drainage areas, but flooding will continue. One possible improvement to reduce flooding is to enlarge the culvert under Westminster Road. Unnamed tributary East Unnamed tributary - West

2 Open Channel Maintenance Open channel maintenance is another inherent problem of the existing stormwater channel built through the yards. The residents are concerned that the Out of Bounds development will worsen the condition of the deep channel, as it already is an inconvenience and a nuisance to maintain. It is possible the channel will be impacted by additional and more frequent flows caused by the Out of Bounds development. The developer is attempting to limit this impact by proposing an on-site underground detention basin along the southern end of the new development. One possible improvement is to replace the open channel with a pipe going all the way to the stream. This will mitigate possible erosion impacts from the proposed development and alleviate the residents maintenance concerns. Open Channel Ditch- North Open Channel Ditch-South Clogging Clogging is evident at three locations; inlets on both sides of Smithfield Road and a culvert under Westminster Road. All are existing problems within the public road system and a solution with VDOT is necessary. Improving the Smithfield Road drainage will impact the open channel, discussed earlier, which is an undesirable outcome if the open channel is left at its current condition. The clogged inlets flood Smithfield Road, but are also protecting the downstream channels from flooding impacts. This is an existing problem, but one possible improvement is to replace the clogged inlets with a functioning drainage system that is low maintenance for residents. Clogged inlet on Smithfield Road Partially clogged culvert under Westminster Road

3 County Basin The county basin may have been built to ameliorate the previous drainage issues in location 4 from figure 1. The basin s function should be incorporated in the stormwater management design and the developer should clarify this in the ZMA application. The developer acquired a 20 drainage easement on TMP 60D-F-8 to address the adequate channel requirement. However, another resident complained of flooding on TMP 60D-F-6. We discovered a clogged inlet in this lot. This area appears to be outside the developer s scope, but one possible improvement is to provide a functioning drainage system to address flooding concerns. FIGURE 1

4 FIGURE 2 I have also attached s from the developer and Canterbury Hills Association regarding the drainage concerns. See attached s.

5 From: Sent: To: Subject: Vito Cetta Thursday, September 12, :35 AM Glenn Brooks; ; Justin Shimp Out of Bounds Glenn and Michelle, Last Wednesday the 4 of us met with Canterbury Hills neighbors who live adjacent or near the storm water channel near Smithfield Road. The purpose of the meeting with the neighbors was to explain and discuss the drainage issues. This storm water system was built 40+ years ago and partially consists of channels on both sides of Smithfield Road, a catch basin on the north side, a pipe running under Smithfield Road, another catch basin on the south side of Smithfield, then into a pipe for about 200' then into a drainage channel for 200' which is dry unless it has recently rained, then into a stream that has running water and eventually into a 5' diameter pipe that runs under Westminster Road. As you can see from the photos sent separately, the drainage area is quite beautiful with large trees. One of the neighbors and a few other chimed in as to what happens in a big rain. Bob Garland provided me with the names of the residents who border the drainage system. In conversations with several of them, no one seems at all concerned with the situation. Storm water that has flowed over the banks 2 or 3 times over the last 10 years. After a short time or perhaps many hours eventually the water subsides. From our perspective, the channel works as designed which is for a 10 year occurrence. The drainage system is beautiful and should not be disturbed. The overflow occurs only occasionally and after a short time it subsides. Houses are not effected by this situation since they are much higher than the drainage area. The situation can be helped considerably if the channel was maintained. As an example, there is a 20" diameter log in the middle of the channel and debry partially blocking the 5' pipe. Perhaps the situation can be improved by adding some rip rap or stones to the channel or in some cases leaving a healthy vegetated buffer along the stream rather than mowing right to the edge of it. Out of Bounds presently contributes 5.4 acres to this water shed of about 165 acres. The water released to the system from the new project will be delivered at the same rate although for a long period of time. This is a very minor contribution to the system. Vito Cetta, aia 1730 Owensfield Dr Charlottesville, VA home: cell: vitocetta@mac.com 1

6 From: Sent: To: Subject: Glenn Brooks Wednesday, September 25, :58 PM FW: Out of Bounds -----Original Message----- From: Vito Cetta Sent: Wednesday, September 25, :29 AM To: Megan Yaniglos; Glenn Brooks Cc: Justin Shimp; Bob Garland; Troy Austin Subject: Out of Bounds Megan, As you saw at the community meeting last night, the storm water drainage system perhaps needs to be dealt with. It appears to me that maintenance of the drainage system needs to be maintained better. The system crosses under both Smithfield Road and Westminster Road which are both VDOT roads. VDOT needs to maintain those sections. After the system continues past Smithfield Road, it travels for about 250 years through private property. The question I have, who is responsible for maintaining that portion. There is debris that needs to be removed and the banks could use some maintenance. Perhaps the Attorney's office can help. Thanks for being there last night. Vito Cetta, aia 1730 Owensfield Dr Charlottesville, VA home: cell: vitocetta@mac.com 1

7 From: Sent: To: Subject: Glenn Brooks Thursday, September 26, :02 AM FW: Out of Bounds From: Sent: Wednesday, September 25, :49 PM To: Megan Yaniglos; Glenn Brooks Cc: Troy Austin Subject: Re: Out of Bounds Vito et al., Thanks for pursuing this issue. This morning, I spoke with Mr Bowman (104 Smithfield Court) and have determined that there is, in fact, a 20' wide drainage easement on his property that apparently includes the stone-lined ditch shown in your pictures (I have a copy of his plat). Additionally his plat leads me to believe there is also a drainage easement behind 102 Smithfield Court (Ken Kellerman). The large log in the ditch simply fell there after it was cut by Mr Bowman's son and it is his intention to remove the log. According to him, the smaller cut logs have never been in the ditch and no wood was ever put there to control erosion. He did, at some time in the past, place a small amount of scrap concrete on the banks where the drainage ditch intersects with the creek. The small bridge across the ditch shown in your pictures was built by Mr Bowman and has washed out once, but not from water flowing down the ditch from Smithfield Road. According to him the wash out had something to do with a previous "beaver pond" located further upstream towards St Anne's- Belfield and had nothing to do with water flowing down the drainage ditch. He states that water has never risen over the banks of the drainage ditch. I am sure the major concern of the surrounding neighbors on Smithfield Road is that the Out of Bounds project not make the existing drainage problems any worse. However those existing problems must be corrected by VDOT or the County. As you and others have heard, several properties on Smithfield Road have had water issues and according to neighbors in that area, Smithfield Road has "flooded" during heavy rains. My guess is that all of this is caused by the existing drainage system being blocked for lack of proper maintenance. A regular maintenance schedule MUST be adopted by the responsible parties. What I would presume are VDOT responsibilities: - Make sure drainage/drop inlets on both sides of Smithfield Road (between 2516 & 2514 and between 2513 & 2515) remain clear and free-flowing. - Make sure the pipe which goes under Smithfield Road between those two points remains clear of debris and is free-flowing. - Make sure the drop inlets on Westminster Road (between 209 & 207 and between 210 & 208) remain clear and free-flowing. - Make sure the drop inlets on Westminster Road (between 101 Vicar Court & 207 1

8 Westminster Road and between 308 & 306 Westminster Road) remain clear and freeflowing. - Make sure the pipe which goes under Westminster Road between those two points remains clear of debris and is free-flowing. What I would presume are the County's responsibilities: - Make sure the pipe which goes behind 102 (Kellerman) and 104 Smithfield Court (Mr Bowman) remains clear of debris and is free-flowing. - Make sure the drainage ditch which goes behind 104 Smithfield Court (Mr Bowman) remains clear of debris and is free-flowing. - Make sure that other pipe(s) located on 209 Westminster and the adjacent lot remain clear of debris and is free-flowing. Obviously I'm not an expert in these matters, but it would seem to me that the County must have required or requested the various easements when Canterbury Hills was developed and would ultimately be responsible for maintaining them. I would be more than willing to meet with anyone from VDOT or the County here in the neighborhood to point out the areas of concern I have described above. Bob Garland, Jr. Secretary Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Canterbury Hills Association 105 Woodhurst Court Charlottesville, VA bgarlandjr@aol.com (434) (H) In a message dated 9/25/ :28:58 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, vitocetta@me.com writes: Megan, As you saw at the community meeting last night, the storm water drainage system perhaps needs to be dealt with. It appears to me that maintenance of the drainage system needs to be maintained better. The system crosses under both Smithfield Road and Westminster Road which are both VDOT roads. VDOT needs to maintain those sections. After the system continues past Smithfield Road, it travels for about 250 years through private property. The question I have, who is responsible for maintaining that portion. There is debris that needs to be removed and the banks could use some maintenance. Perhaps the Attorney's office can help. Thanks for being there last night. Vito Cetta, aia 1730 Owensfield Dr Charlottesville, VA home: cell: vitocetta@mac.com 2