January 4, 2008
Bob Kelly – Mayor, City of West University Place
Michael Ross – City Manager, City of West University Place
Richard Rothfelder – Mayor, City of Southside Place
David Moss – City Manager, City Southside Place
Mike Talbott - Director, Harris County Flood Control District
Cc: Anne Clutterbuck – Houston City Council District C
Tim Douglass – Houston City Council District C Chief of Staff
John J. Sakolosky, P.E. - City Engineer, City of Houston
Carol Ellinger – City of Houston Public Works and Engineering Department
REQUEST FROM DOWNSTREAM RESIDENTS FOR UNDERSTANDING OF “NO
ADVERSE IMPACT” INFORMATION FOR BELLAIRE BLVD AND COLLEGE
STREET DRAINAGE PROJECTS
With the work on the Bellaire Blvd and the College Street Drainage Project now underway, there
appears to be conflicting views between our understanding as downstream residents of the stated
positions of the City of West University Place and HCFCD on the need and type of mitigation
required for the College Street project. It is also not clear that the mitigation required for the
Bellaire Blvd Bridge and street reconstruction work, the need for which we understand to be
acknowledged by HCFCD and communicated to the City of Southside Place, will be in place
prior to the completion of the improvements.
We were all represented and participated together on the original Poor Farm/Kilmarnock
Regional Study Group, and now on the current Poor Farm Technical Study Group. From the
recommendations published in the report of the first Study Group in 2004, mitigating the
downstream impact of any modifications to Poor Farm was of paramount concern to the residents
south of Bellaire Blvd.
From the Poor Farm/Kilmarnock Study Group Report (June 2004 Revision 1) To further analyze the impacts of the proposed recommendations for Poor Farm Ditch and Kilmarnock
Ditch to mitigate any downstream impact, as the communities have expressed concerns for such
impacts; this includes any impact downstream of Bellaire Boulevard to residents along Poor Farm
Ditch, as well as any downstream impact on Brays Bayou.
This mitigation volume is a preliminary estimate for this phase of the Study, but it is an important
component of the Study Group’s recommendation. Should this study move to the preliminary
engineering phase, storage volumes and detention sites for mitigation would be refined in a more
detailed analysis, including any downstream impacts on Poor Farm Ditch, Kilmarnock Ditch and
Brays Bayou.
The key concern of those residents are the downstream impacts of any additional flows in Poor Farm
Ditch, particularly until the major improvements to Braes Bayou are in place.
There continues to be great concern that the work being done on Bellaire Blvd and College Street
will have a similar negative impact on the downstream residents along Poor Farm Ditch and
Braes Bayou if not properly mitigated. Our understanding from HCFCD is that some 10 acre-ft of
mitigation is required for the Bellaire Blvd Bridge work, and that the reconstruction of Bellaire
Blvd and resulting drainage improvements will require an additional 13 acre-ft of mitigation. The
mitigation volume for the College Street work is unknown to us, but we would assume that it
would require similar volumes. We also understand that HCFCD does not recognize the concept
of “timing of peak flows” as mitigation, which is the currently stated position of the City of West
University on the increased flows coming from the College Street work.
We do appreciate and acknowledge all of the constructive dialogue on the original PFKRS
Group, the recent responses and dialogue with Mayor Kelly on the College Street project, the
input and responses from HCFCD, and the continued support of Councilmember Clutterbuck’s
office, and her Chief of Staff Tim Douglass, as well as the recent formation of the Poor Farm
Technical Study Group. We also look forward to the results of the upcoming meeting between
Councilmember Clutterbuck and Houston City Engineer John J. Sakolosky to discuss the impact
and mitigation requirements of the Bellaire Blvd Bridge and College Street projects from the
perspective of the downstream Flood Plain Administrator.
Our position as downstream residents remains as stated since the inception of the original PFKRS
Group in 2003 that we would like to have the supporting engineering assumptions and
calculations explained to us to understand how the "no adverse impact" requirements are being
implemented for the upstream drainage improvement work to ensure that these projects are not
improving drainage in one area by moving the problems downstream. To date, we have not
received that explanation.
Without that understanding, there remain a lot of concerns, questions, and emotion, from the
downstream residents about the potential negative impact of the drainage and street
improvements being made by the Cities of West University and Southside Place.
We again request that we have the opportunity to understand the underlying engineering
assumptions and calculations as well as the formal positions of HCFCD and the downstream
Flood Plain Administrator so we are able to understand how the "no adverse impact"
requirements are being implemented for the Bellaire Blvd Bridge and College Street projects.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the downstream residents,
Jeff Patterson
Area Director 1
Braeswood Place Homeowners Association