DR8802-CS 990614
June 14, 1999
Carolyn S. Skinner
336 West Kaye Street
Coppell, Texas 75019
RE: Response to June 2, 1999 letter concerning drainage
Dear Ms Skinner:
I have received and reviewed your letter concerning the drainage problems associated with
Kaye Street and the subdivision to the south. You are correct in stating that there is a plan to
resolve that drainage as part of our Storm Water Management Study. The subdivision to the
south, Coppell Village, was developed in the early 1980's and in reviewing the drainage
information for that subdivision it appears that the intent was for the rear portion of the lots on
Kaye Street to drain toward Coppell Village. However, in looking at the details of the various
plan sheets in the Coppell Village construction plans, it is obvious that the development of the
lots intended for the water in Coppell Village to drain north toward Kaye Street. Obviously,
there is conflicting information provided in the same set of plans.
The project for the City to resolve the drainage issue is a project in our Phase II
implementation of the Storm Water Management Study. The City of Coppell completed the
north side of Kaye Street in 1992. I do share your concerns about standing water in the rear of
the lots, as I live on Cooper Street in the subdivision south of you. I am aware that when it
rains the rear of my property does not drain but sets and soaks in my rear yard. I am also
aware that there is no way that the rear of your property could drain toward the south because
in looking at my property it appears that the home builder built up my property approximately
8" to 10" higher than the property along Kaye Street. In effect, what has been created is a
situation where the property on Kaye Street drains to the rear and the property on Cooper
Street drains to the rear and yet the water drains nowhere. There was a very similar situation
on the north side of Kaye Street created by the Shadowridge Subdivision. The approach at that
time was to put a drainage system along the rear of the property with yard inlets to collect the
standing water. To my knowledge, that system has worked very well over the last seven
years.
Currently, the City has no available funds for the continued implementation of the Storm
Water Management Study or other drainage projects. However, we are in the beginning stages
of a Bond Committee to discuss not only street and park projects but also drainage projects. It
is anticipated that a recommendation will be presented to Council toward the middle of July on
drainage projects to be included for a potential bond sale in the fall of 1999. Because the
South Kaye Street drainage project is very near the top of the list of projects on the Storm
Water Management Study, I did include that project as a potential drainage project to the
Public Works Bond Committee. However, at this point I am uncertain what recommendation
will be presented to Council from the Public Works Bond Committee. The recommendation
could take several forms: 1) there could be a recommendation to include just a set amount of
drainage dollars and instruct City staff to continue with the implementation of the Storm Water
Management Study 2) there could be a recommendation to include very specific drainage
projects of which Kaye Street may or may not be included or 3) there could be a
recommendation to include no drainage projects. The recommendation will come from the
Public Works Bond Committee and then will be discussed by City Council and potentially
taken to the voters in the fall of 1999. Until that time, I have no available means to address
this drainage issue.
One portion of your letter questioned whether or not City equipment could come onto your
property and do some site grading in the interim. It is not legal for City equipment to perform
work on private property at the benefit of the property owner. So therefore, there is not an
opportunity for the City to bring its own equipment onto your site to regrade your lot to handle
this drainage problem.
In summary, I am currently working with the Public Works Bond Committee in hopes to
secure funding for drainage projects but at this point cannot provide you any firm guarantees
on whether or not the drainage associated with Kaye Street will be included in any
recommendation. I would recommend that you contact me at the end of July 1999, at
972/304-3686, and at that point I should be able to give you more information on the status of
drainage projects, drainage inclusion on any bond program and whether or not drainage
associated with Kaye Street is being considered.
I hope this has adequately answered the concerns in your letter. However, if you do have any
additional questions please feel free to contact me at your convenience. If not I will expect to
hear from you at the end of July.
Sincerely,
Kenneth M. Griffin, P.E.
Director of Engineering/Public Works