Thompson, Johnny-CS 921124 P.O Box 478
Coppell, Texas 75019
The City With A Beautiful Future 214-462-0022
November 24, 1992
Mr. Johnny Thompson
1850 South Belt Line Road
Coppell, TX 75019
RE: Property on Sandy Lake Road
(Approximately 25 Acres)
Dear Mr. Thompson:
This letter is written in response to your recent inquiries of the Engineering Department
concerning the filling of your property on the south side of Sandy Lake Road west of the Elm
Fork of the Trinity River. Most recently you and I discussed the filling of the property on
November 12, 1992. During that conversation, I explained that based upon the review of all
previous correspondence and FEMA requirements, it was my opinion that you did not have a
valid permit from the City to fill your property and that you would need to go through the
Floodplain Development Permit process.
In reviewing the information, it appeared that in 1983 you were proceeding on the proper course
of action to obtain a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). However, as I explained, once a map
is updated, the new map supersedes all LOMA's. Because you never filled your property and
because the floodplain maps were updated, your LOMA from 1983 has been superseded, and you
will need to proceed with the proper process of obtaining permission to fill the property. Because
this property is now shown to be in a floodplain, based on an increase in the floodplain elevation
(1983 elevation - 443, 1992 elevation -445), you will need to obtain a Letter of Map Revision
(LOMR). The LOMR will require a Floodplain §tudy to show the impact of filling the property
on the water surface. I explained to you that it could be anywhere from three to six months after
the study is approved by the City before a Conditional Letter of Map Revision is obtained from
FEMA.
During the course of our conversation you seemed to understand that your LOMA was no longer
valid and that you would need a Letter of Map Revision to fill. I understand that you have had
some preliminary conversations with a local consultant about a flood study on your property.
Letter to Mr. Johnny Thompson
November 24, 1992
Page 2
In regards to some of your concerns, I did explain that if a flood study was submitted, approved
and met all our requirements, then the flood study would be processed to FEMA for approval,
as would any other flood study within the City limits of Coppell. I also explained that there is
currently a coalition of nine cities being formed that would monitor all development along the
Elm Fork of the Trinity River in conjunction with the Trinity River Corridor with the North
Texas Council of Governments. When that coalition becomes active, there quite possibly could
be additional re~h~ctions and requirements placed on the development of property in the drainage
basin of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. One of those requirements could be valley storage.
As stated during our meeting, valley storage is not currently a requirement of the City of Coppell
but a recommendation.
You stated that you were currently in the process of looking at how to develop the 25 acres and
that you had spoken with the engineer for the Eagle Point development to the south. It is my
understanding that you will be splitting your drainage and taking approximately half of it to the
south and half to Sandy Lake Road. I did inform you that a contract for the design of Sandy
Lake Road had recently been let by Dallas County. The engineer is Svererup Corporation and
the project manager is Phillip Westin, P.E. The address for Svererup Corporation is 4311 Oak
Lawn, Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75219 and their phone number is (214) 520-2116. It is my
recommendation that you contact Mr. Westin to inquire about their design for the drainage from
this property.
In conclusion, because you do not have a valid fill permit, all filling of the property should cease.
To continue to fill the property could subject you to citations from the City for violation of our
Floodplain Ordinance.
If you should have any questions concerning any items contained in this letter, please feel free
to contact me at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Kenneth M. Griffin, P.E.
City Engineer
KMG/bd
cc: Alan D. Ratliff, City Manager
Larry Jackson, City Attorney