Villages C P3&4-CS 950516 (2)May 16, 1995
Mr. Kenneth Griffin
City Engineer of Coppell
255 Parkway Blvd.
P.O. Box 478
Coppell, Texas 75019
Re~
Giving official "updated" notice, via certified mail, to all parties concerned
regarding the slope failure behind the house (and other contiguous properties 973,
981 & 985 Parker Drive) located at 977 Parker Drive, Coppell, Texas
Dear Mr. Griffin,
This updated notice is being forwarded to you because the extent of the slope failure is
becoming so steep that it is now a threat to the health and safety of my family. This
weekend my wife, while watering the back yard, accidently stepped into one of the large
cracks in the earth and fell four feet down the bank. At first we thought her hip may have
broken.
After consulting with three geotechnical civil engineers, I have been informed that the
uncompacted fill din, placed behind mine and my neighbors homes, will continue to
collapse and slide into Denton Creek. That if a barrier is not constructed that will protect
the "cut bank", soil will continue to erode which will eventually effect our foundations.
Prior to the first failure of the subject slope occurring in July 1994, we invested ~$2,000
in materials and hundreds of man hours in attempting to prevent that which is now
occurring. Since the house was sold to us with raw dirt and no vegetation in the back
yard, we did the following in order to prevent erosion form taking place:
* Installed rain gutters on mine and our neighbor's home.
* Installed 4 inch sewer lines to catch the rain water from the down spouts and directed
the flow away from the bank and towards the foot of the slope, nearest to the creek.
* With hand tools, reduced the original steep angle (~45 degrees) of the slope to more
closely reflect the angle of repose @30 degrees.
* Layered the face of the slope with ~3 inches of compost to facilitate plant growth.
* Planted over $100 in Texas wild flower seeds onto the bare surface of the slope.
* Staked jute netting material over the entire face of the bank to prevent surface erosion.
Kenneth Griffin
May 16, 1995
When the slope failure first began to occur in July 1994, I attempted to patch the damage
by bringing in some additional soil and sod. In December 1994, I was notified by the City
of Coppell that nothing could be placed in my back yard which would end up in the creek.
In April 1995, I was informed that nothing less than a gabbion wall, constructed at the
foot of mine and my neighbors slope, would save the bank and our homes. The cost
would be well in excess of $100,000 of which myself and my neighbors cannot afl'ord.
My neighbors and I request that a gabbion wall (similar to the one that was built by Craig
Olden 691-1815, engineered by Ron Reed 350-5600, and paid for by the land developers,
Hammond Heath 248-9190 and Craig Knight 512-469-5301, for houses that were built by
Huntington Homes 471-2045 at 920, 924, 928 & 932 Creek Crossing, Coppell, Texas) be
constructed behind our homes.
We see a window of opportunity to act quickly, in that we are entering our seasonal dry
period, which will facilitate the construction of the wall before any further damage occurs
or any resident is injured. We have been promised rapid permit approvals by the city and
the home owners association.
You or your representative, with proper identification, can access my property and inspect
the failure of the slope at any time. Please knock on the front door first, in case my wife is
at home, and access through the side gate which is never locked. My neighbors have said
that they would be more than willing to provide access to their properties as well.
During the wall construction process, Grand Homes owns the vacant lot, which is south
and contiguous to 973 Parker Drive, which could act as the stagging area and main access
to the back of our properties. Myself and my neighbors are more than willing to
accommodate your needs regarding all efforts associated with the logistics of constructing
this wall.
Your rapi.d response is appreciated and expected.
This certified letter, with return receipt, is being sent to the following:
Tipton Engineering
Reed Engineering
City of Coppell
Home & Apartment Builders Association
Westchester Homes
Grand Homes
Lakes of Coppell Home Owners Association
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