Thompson, Johnny-CS 910319City of Coppell ......
Coppell, Texas 7~ ~ I S~ ~
Dear Mr. Ratliff:
In Hay of 19~ · -.~.,=-~ )rrison, Civil Engineer of
Natural & Technological Hazards ~[~isio~ (FEMA) in Denton, Texas. I
showed Mr. Horrison a "survey grid" of a 25 acre tract of land I own
on Sandy Lake Road in the City of Coppell. Mr. Horrison agreed with
me that the property was above the 100 year flood elevation.
On Hay 6, 1983, Hr. Horrison sent a letter to Hr. Andy Brown,
Hayor of Coppell at that time. The letter said that he had met with
me and that the survey grid I had shown him indicated there was au
error in the flood map, and if Coppell agreed with the information
that I had presented to him, and wanted to issue a development permit
without actually changing the maps, then the City would have to send
FEMAa letter requesting a floodway revision without a map change. Hr.
Horrison was also concerned if any fill had been placed on the property.
At that time no fill had been made. A letter by Hr. Troy P. Glidewell
to Mr. Morrison, dated June 14, 1983, stated that there had been no
fill on the property for the previous nine years.
On July 14, 1983, Hr. Horrison sent a letter stating that the City
would have to do two things to correct the apparent floodway error. One
was to ask for a floodway revision without an actual map change from the
City. The other was to adopt a resolution or amendment to the city ordi-
nance. After FEMA received the first request they would respond with a
letter which would state their opinion.
On July 21, 1983, Hr. Scott Barnett, City of Coppell Staff, sent
a letter to Hr. Horrison asking for a floodway revision without an actual
map change. The first item having been met, Mr. Horrison sent a letter
on August 3, 1983, that FEHA had no objection to the proposed revision
on the floodway limits of the 25 acre tract.
At that time the City had no objection to my fill and removal of
topsoil. I had been working on that property until Russell Doyle said
that the City was changing the floodway boundaries. When I gave him
copies of the letters from the City and from FEHA, it didn't seem to
make any difference. I asked if he could get the City to look at the
case and was told that when you buy flood property, that is what you own.
I did not buy flood property. I bought property that could be
developed with very little cost. I proved that, to the City of Coppell
and to FEHA. Now my property has been damaged by the negligence of the
City. Since the City of Coppell approved the new flood ordinance, the
flood elevation on my property has changed from 443 to 445. Hy property
was not in the flood plain in 1983, but in 1988, it is.
If the City of Coppell needs this property for water storase
to help the community, then they need to pay 2.5 million dollars for
25 acres of retail Property. I do not feel that I should be called
upon to donate that much to the City of Coppell. If the City doesn't
wish to buy the property that they allowed to be changed iu the flood
elevation, then there will be a cost of approximately $1,250,000.00
damage, plus en$ineering and maybe more, if loss of acreaEe has
occurred.
I would like to be able to work with the City on this matter to
recover my loss.
Sincerely,
Mr. Johnny Thompson
1780 E. Beltline Road
P. O. Box 1236
Coppell, Texas 75019
(214) 462-1660
(214) 393-0407
Enc.: Copies of Documents
· Mr. Alan Ratliff
City Manager
City of Coppell
Coppell, Texas
Dear Mr. Ratliff,
In May of 1983 I met with Mr. Ron Morrison, Civil Engineer of Natural
& Technological Hazards Division (~MA) in Denton, Texas. I showsd Mr.
Morriso~ a 'survey grid" of a 23 acre tract of land I own on Sandy Lake Rd.
in the City of Coppell. Mr. Morrison agreed with me that the property was
above the 100 year flood elevation.
On May 6, 1983 Mr. Morrison sent a letter to Mr. Andy Brown, Mayor of
Coppell at that time,. The letter said that he had meet with me and that
the survey grid I had shown him indicated there was an error in the flood
map and if Coppell agreed with the information that I had presented to him
and wanted to issue a developmen~ permit without actually changing the Haps
then the City would have to send FEMA a letter requesting a floodway revision
without a map change. Mr. Morrison was also concerned if any fill had been
placed on the property. At that time no fill had been made. A letter by
Mr. Troy P. (;lidewell to Mr. Morrison dated June 14, 1983 stated that there
had been no fill on the property for the previous nine years.
On July 14, 1983 Mr. Morrtson sent a letter stating that the city
would b~ve to do two things to correct the apparent floodway error. One
was to ask for a floodway revision without an actual map change from the
city. The other was to adopt a resolution or amendment to the city ordinance.
After FEMA received the first request they would respond with a letter which
would state there opinion.
CN July 21, 1983, Mr. Scott Barnett, City of Coppell Staff, sent a
letter to Mr. Morrison asking for a floodway revision without an actual
map change. The first item having been meet, Mr. Morrison sent a letter on
August 3, 1983 that FEMA had no objection to the proposed revision on the
floodway limits of the 25 acre tract.
At that time the City had no objection to my fill and removal of topsoil.
I had been working on that property until Russell Doyle said That the City
was changing the floodway boundaries. When I gave him copies of the letters
from the city and from FEMA, it didn't seem to make any difference. I asked
if he could get the city to look at the case and was told that when you buy
flood property that is what you own.
I did not buy flood property. I bought property that could be developed
with very little cost. I proved that to the City Of Coppell and to ~EMA.
Now my property has been damaged by the negligence of the City. Since the
City of Coppell appzoved the new flood ordinance, the flood elevation on
my property has changed from ~3 to445. My property was not in the
floodplain in 1983, but in 1988 it is.
If the City of Coppell needs this property for water storage to help
the community, t~en they need to pay 2.5 million dollars for 25 acres of
retail property. I do not feel that I should be called upon to donate that
much to the City of Coppell. If the city doesn't wish to buy the property
that they allo~ed to be changed in the flood elevation, then there will
be a cost of approximately $1,2500,000 damage, plus engineering, and
maybe more if loss of acreage has occurred.
I would like to be able to work with the city on this matter, to
recover my loss.
Sincerely,
Johnny Thompson
.d. ,~.-/, .~7.," '"' .-, i -
Copies of documents enclosedl