ST9301A-CS 950206 HALFF ASSOCIATES, INC.
ENGINEERS ' SCIENTISTS · SURVEYORS 6..9'~ q-~D O[ ~
I),\I,I.AS · F()RTWORTtl · ARI.INGT()N ·
8616 NORTHWEST PLAZA DRIVE · DALLAS, TEXAS 75225
214/739-0094 · FAX 214/739-0095
Febr. uary 6, 1995
AVO 12687
Dallas County
Public Works Department
411 Elm Street
Dallas, TX 75202
Attn: Mr. Bill Jessup, P.E.
Re: Sandy Lake Road Permitting Status
Dear Bill:
I am receipt of the initial response from FEMA to the Sandy Lake Road Bridge
application for Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR). The letter lists two items
requested by FEMA before they will proceed with the CLOMR application.
The first item requested is an initial review fee of $560.00. In the past, FEMA has
waived the review fee for most public works projects. For example, review fees were waived
for Coppell's Brown Park Improvements located in the Denton Creek floodway. For this reason,
we did not include the initial review fees with the submittal. However, FEMA states that:
'... for a flood-control project to be exempt from fees and
processing costs, it must be sponsored by a Federal, State, or local
government, intended for public benefit, and primarily intended for
flood-loss reduction to insurable structures in identified flood
hazard areas that were in existence prior to commencement of
construction of the flood-control project."
This is inconsistent with past FEMA practices regarding fee exemption and is contrary
to the stated flood plain management goals of the National Flood Insurance Program. Raising
Sandy Lake Road to eliminate its frequently flooded status will greatly decrease flood hazard to
motorists and adjoining property owners. I believe that FEMA's denial of the fee waiver should
be challenged. This issue needs to be quickly resolved so that the CLOMR review can proceed.
Secondly, FEMA is requiring notification of affected property owners in the short reach
just upstream of Belt Line where we have a 0.03 foot rise in the 100-year water surface
elevation. In the past, we have not notified affected property owners until the processing of the
Final Letter of Map Revision. Concun'ence from all communities has been included in the form
TRANSPORTATION - WATER RESOURCES · LAND DEVELOPMENT · MUNICIPAL · ENVIRONMENTAL ° STRUCTURAL
SURVEYING · GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (G P S ) · REMOTE SENSING AND MAPPING
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE o PLANNING
~1~ HALFF ASSOCIATES, [NC
l~l ENGINEERS * SCIF. NTISTS - S[TRVEYORS
Mr. Bill Jessup, P.E. -
Dallas County
February 6, 1995
Page 2
of letters of support (Appendix B). However, I believe that the path of least resistance in this
case may be to proceed with the notification process. Therefore, I have attached the required
forms for your use in the notification process.
Responses to FEMA for these two issues should come through Dallas County as the
applicant. I have attached a draft letter to FEMA for your consideration as a response to FEMA.
The project status for other permits and submittals is unchanged from our January 20, 1995 status
report.
Please do not hesitate to call me if I can answer any questions. Don't forget that we have
90 days from January 30, 1995, to resolve these issues, according to FEMA.
Yours very truly,
HALFF ASSOCIATES, INC.
Walter E. Skipwith, P.E.
Vice President
Attachments
cc: Mr. Charles Gojer, P.E., (w/o attachments)
Ms. Jill Jordan, P.E.
Mr. Bud Beene, P.E.
Mr. Tim Tumulty, P.E., (w/o attachments)
Mr. Kenneth Griffith, P.E., (w/o attachments)
February 6, 1995
Mr. Alan Johnson, P.E.
Hazard Identification Branch
FEMA
Washington, DC 20472
Re: Case No. 95-06-096R
Cities of Carrollton, Coppell, and Dallas, Texas
Communities No. 480167, 480170, and 480171
Dear Mr. Johnson:
We are in receipt of your January 30, 1995 letter concerning the above referenced
conditional LOMR submittal and offer the following comments:
1) We feel strongly that the review fees for this project should be waived. This
project will relieve motorists and adjoining property owners of significant flood
hazard due to frequent overtopping and closures of the existing road resulting
from Elm Fork - Trinity River floods. This is consistent with past FEMA
practices in the area and will further the flood plain management goals of the
National Flood Insurance Program. Therefore, please proceed with your review
of this important flood protection and transportation project.
2) The notification process in general, and property owners affected by the 0.03 foot
rise in Base Flood Elevation just upstream of Belt Line Road has been initiated.
This slight rise does not threaten any insurable structures in the area.
Please do not hesitate to call me if I can answer any questions.
Sincerely,
Mr. Allen Bud Beene
Director of Public Works
Dallas County
cc: Mr. David Preusch, P.E.
Mr. Walter E. Skipwith, P.E.