Robinhood/Dooley Storm Drainage Improvement Project
Public Meeting # 1
June 30, 2009 – 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Attendees:
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Monica Kruckow – Charlotte Mecklenburg Storm Water Services (CMSWS)
Amy Bice - CMSWS
Will Wilhelm – Engineering Consultant (Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. (KHA))
Jason Diaz - KHA
Stephen Thun – KHA
Neighborhood Residents – each resident signed the sign-in sheet upon entering the meeting.
I.
Welcome & Introductions - Monica Kruckow
II.
Meeting Purpose – Monica Kruckow
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III.
Provide general project information on City of Charlotte Storm Water Capital Improvement Projects
(CIP).
Discuss existing storm water issues within the Robinhood/Dooley project area, and
Receive input from the citizens on what storm water issues they have seen in the area.
Project Phases – Monica Kruckow
General Information
 The need for the project was identified from customer drainage requests (311) that include complaints of
house (finished floor, crawl space and HVAC) flooding, shed/carport flooding, road flooding, and stream
erosion.
 Project Area is the Robinhood/Dooley Neighborhood – See attached map.
 The scope of the project involves: The Current Phase - analysis of existing conditions to determine the
portions of the storm drainage system needing improvement. Future Phases - planning analysis of
improvement alternatives, design and construction of needed improvements.
 The goals of the project are to improve the storm drainage infrastructure in order to reduce flooding of
streets & structures. In addition, channel improvements may be made to increase capacity or to reduce
erosion.
Citizen Involvement
 Meeting #1 (this meeting) is to get feedback from citizens on existing storm water issues.
 In Meeting #2, (next meeting) the proposed improvements will be presented for citizen feedback
 In Meeting #3, 70% design (preliminary plans) will be presented and the real estate/easement
acquisition process will be kicked off.
 Citizen involvement throughout the entire project is important to the City and is strongly encouraged.
Contact Monica Kruckow, project manager, directly or call 311 to officially report an issue and ensure
that it is entered into the request database.
Existing Conditions Analysis - Will Wilhelm
 Analysis of the project area included curb and yard inlets, storm drainage pipes, driveway
pipes/culverts, major roadway culverts, roadside ditches, and open channel/streams.
 Storm water systems were evaluated based on current City design criteria.
 Analysis of privately owned drainage systems (i.e. those within apartment complexes) was not
performed.
 Analysis confirmed many of the issues that were reported by the residents through 311 and/or through
questionnaires.
 Issues included insufficient inlets, pipes, ditches, driveway pipes, and culverts throughout the drainage
area. These areas were mapped and overlaid with the citizen input (questionnaires and 311 requests).
This map (attached) was reviewed later in the meeting with the residents in attendance in break out
groups.
IV.
What Happens Next? - Monica Kruckow
Next Phase - Alternative Analysis
 Assess several alternatives to meet the project goals.
 Select the best alternative and complete the Planning Phase.
 Typical planning phases last 12 to 27 months. The planning phase of this project began in May 2008
and is anticipated to be completed in the 2nd quarter of 2010.
Design / Easement Acquisition / Permitting Phase
 The design phase is next and typically lasts 21 to 34 months.
 Construction drawings will be developed for the alternative selected. These plans are to include details
such as pipe sizes and locations, channel/ditch widths, utility relocations, and easement locations.
 The permitting phase runs concurrently with the design phase. This phase includes obtaining the
required permits to build the project from Federal and State government agencies.
 The permitting phase of a project typically lasts 3 to 9 months (runs concurrently with the design phase).
 The real estate phase runs concurrently with the design phase. The City's real estate staff works with
property owners to acquire the necessary easements needed to construct the recommended
improvements and provide future maintenance.
 The easement acquisition phase of a project typically lasts 8 to 12 months but may take longer
depending on the property owners.
Bid / Construction Phase
 After all design plans are finalized, permits secured, and all easements are acquired, the final plans will
go out to contractors for them to bid on. By state law, the lowest responsible bidder is awarded the
construction contract.
 The bid phase of a project typically lasts 4 to 5 months.
 Throughout construction, efforts will be made to minimize disruption to nearby property owners.
Construction of proposed improvements will be supervised by City inspectors. Notifications of key
construction dates will be given to residents throughout construction.
 Because projects vary in size, the typical construction phase of a project can last from 3 months to over
2 years.
Throughout all phases Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services will continue to send mailers quarterly
to update citizens.
VII.
General Questions & Comments
Q: Are both of the culverts at each Robinhood Circle stream crossing part of the proposed
improvements?
A: These culverts do not meet current City Standards. It is anticipated that these culverts will be
replaced with larger culverts to meet City Standards, however, we have not yet determined what the
proposed improvements will be.
Q: An approximate timeline for to complete all the phases (planning, design, and construction) can be 5
years?
A: That is correct.
VIII.
Small Group Discussions:
The citizens in attendance broke out into three smaller groups to review the existing condition summary
maps (attached) and to comment on the maps and provide additional information about drainage issues in
the neighborhood.
Summary of Concerns (reported by citizens in attendance):
 Roadside ditch erosion along Robinhood Circle.
 Culvert underneath road at 1230 Robinhood Circle is undersized.
 Area outside of the project area and to the south of 1230 Robinhood Circle is believed to be draining
towards the project area.
 Beavers are problematic downstream of existing beaver pond
 Culvert underneath Marlwood Circle near the intersection of Timber Lake Drive (outside the project
area) is undersized.
 Street flooding in the vicinity of Little John Court and Robinhood Circle were reported.
 Grass swales are preferred over rip rap channels.
 Runoff overtops lower Robinhood Circle near 1300 Marlwood Circle.
 Yard flooding reported in the backyards by select homeowners along Robinhood Circle.
 Channel erosion and bridge damage reported in the back yards by select homeowners along Robinhood
Circle.
 Basement flooding reported by select homeowners along Robinhood Circle.
 Channel erosion reported in the back yards by select homeowners along Robinhood Circle.
 Incomplete curb along Robinhood Circle
 Runoff overtops the road near 1233 and 1229 Robinhood Circle.
 Possible yard settling due to improper drainage along sewer line between 1229 and 1231 Robinhood
Circle.