CF-Andrew Park 1-CS 871006NTH
Federal
Emergency Management Agency
Region VI, Federal Center, 800 North Loop 288
Denton, Texas 76201-3698
October 6, 1
o o8r.
Mr. ~'layne Ginn, P. E.
City Engineer
City of Coppell
Post Office Box 478
Coppell, Texas 75019
Dear Mr. Ginn:
This letter relates to a report submitted on September 21, 1987, from
PAWA-Winkelmann and Associates, Inc., to support a proposed improvement
project to the City of Coppell's Andrew Brown Community Park, located
within Denton Creek and Cottonwood Branch.
In reviewing the report Maryetta Cunningham, Natural Hazards Program
Specialist, has identified several important concerns relating to the
project as submitted; these are:
l) When an adequate engineering analysis of hydrologic and hydraulic
data establishes the NO IMPACT on the base flood elevations,
floodway boundaries or carrying capacity would be caused by the
placement of the project, a submittal to the Federal Emergency
Management Agency is not required; the final decision to accept
the report lies with the Community. However, if the project will
result in any revision to the identified flood hazard
characteristics, it is necessary that a FEMA approval be obtained.
2) The report, while it states tha~ the' technical analysis establishes
no effect upon "lO0-year water surface elevations or floodway.
widths," fails to provide any evaluation or information relating
to the "Concession buildings which may also be placed, which will
be floodproofed or considered as enclosures."
3) Because of weaknesses in the City of Coppell's past administration
of the provisions of its floodplain management ordinance, we feel
it necessary to remind you of the requirement to address other
concerns with the project; these are:
a) Any project or activity within an identified floodplain must
be processed through the City's permitting system to ensure
that all provisions of the ordinance applicable to the specific
project will be addressed; the fact that the project is a city
project would not exempt it from these requirements.
Mr. Wayn~ Ginn, P. E.
.b) A concession building falls within the definition of "Structure"
as defined 'by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
regulations. Thus, if it is placed within a floodplain area
it must be elevated so that the lowest floor is at or above
the currently effective base flood elevation; or, it must be
floodproofed in accordance with the criteria set forth in the
City's ordinance and certified by a .licensed professional
engineer as meeting that criteria. The use of "enclosures"
as provided in the r~port would necessitate that the specific
design criteria for enclosures as set forth in the City's
ordinance be incorporated and that again it be certified by
a licensed professonal engineer as meeting the ordinance criteria
specifically relating to enclosures.
I wish to emphasize that one appropriate use for a flood hazard area would
be a community park or recreational area. However, whenever buildings
or other structures are placed within the floodplain, it is necessary
that all floodplain management requirements be addressed.
Since the technical report submitted by PAWA-Winkelmann and Associates
does not involve a request for either a Conditional or Final Letter of
Map Revision, it is not being forwarded to our technical review staff.
However, it is this Agency's position that further supporting technical
data or clarification of the location of the structures is necessary before
the City of Coppell can safely accept the report as sufficient documentation
of "no impact on the lO0-year water surface elevation or floodway widths."
~laps should be included identifying the location of both the existing
floodplain and floodway boundaries, and the location of any obstruction
(such as tennis court fences, etc.) or buildings must be a part of the
report. For any obstruction such as tennis court fences within the
regulatory floodway, design criteria must be included which will allow
the City to safely verify that they .would not cause any obstruction to
the flow of the floodwaters.
Please contact Mrs. Cunningham at 817-898-916! if you need further
assistance in this matter. Because our recent evaluation of the City's
floodplain management program identified problems with past implementation
and enforcement, we request that you, in your capacity as City Engineer,
address the above expressed concerns and provide us with the resolutions
reached.
Sincerely,
ceP¥
/
Copy to: Shohre Daneshmand~
City of Coppell
Carl Anderson, P. E.
PAWA-Winkelmann & Associates
Alton S. Ray, P. E.
Acting Chief
Natural and Technological
Hazards Division