Stormwater Management Commission

APPROVED MINUTES OF A SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT COMMISSION VILLAGE OF NORTHBROOK COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS May 29, 2014 Village Engineer Paul Kendzior called the meeting to order at 6:35 P.M. in the Second Floor Conference Room at the Public Works Center. Members present: Chairman Thomas Burke, Adele Sturgis, Eugene Chodash, Peter Rosner, Leonard Rago, Greg Hoeft, Robert Kaplan, Craig Hetue and William Pappas. Other staff present: Jim Baxa and minute recorder Colleen Brunner. Minutes: On a motion made and seconded, the minutes from the March 20, 2014 meeting were approved with the following change; 1) under heading Backyard/Possible Structure Flooding at First St., paragraph #9; insert “the home has an outside door to the basement…” Hear From the Audience: None. Discussion of Possible Additional Project for the Northbrook Manor Subdivision to be Included in Proposed Addendum #2 to the Master Stormwater Plan: Village Engineer Paul Kendzior summarized that at the last Stormwater Commission meeting, the members agreed to wait one month to see if any additional projects came forth that could be added to the proposed Addendum #2. Adele Sturgis, attending the meeting as a Northbrook Manor Subdivision resident, desired to present the neighborhood’s flooding concerns. Ms. Sturgis stated that her subdivision is similar to the First Street/Center Avenue block in that it has a “bathtub” for the rear yards and newly built homes that have exacerbated water run off issues. The rear yard drains on Oak Ave. are backing up into yards on Maple Ave. This area is the lowest point in Northbrook and has a long history of flooding. The river was straightened out and at one time many more properties were in the floodplain. It was questionable if homes should have been allowed to be built in this area in the first place. The “Cattle Pass” relief swale was constructed, but the rear yards still get water, especially from yard drains that do not have backflow prevention devices. After a rainfall, water is over the sidewalks and curbs and the problem continues to get worse. Ms. Sturgis proposes that: 1) the Village requires back flow prevention devices for the rear yard drains; 2) install curb & gutter on Lorenz Drive; 3) correct or stabilize the eroded stream bank; 4) possibly initiate flood insurance rebate as Village allowed construction in areas known to have flood concerns; and 5) purchase properties for detention purposes in the neighborhood. The Commission Members then discussed these flooding issues and concerns raised by Ms. Sturgis. Member Kaplan asked if our consultant who prepared the Master Plan and Addendum #1 considered alternatives to the proposed projects that would lessen some of the flooding issues in the Northbrook Manor Subdivision. Member Kaplan indicated that he was not sure if any of the projects would make an impact. Village Engineer Kendzior responded that the consultant (HLR, Inc.) did look at numerous project design alternatives. The proposed Shermer Road Overflow Sewer, Northbrook Manor Subdivision “Balancing” Sewer and Wescott Park Storage Facility projects will all benefit this area, but they all need to be accomplished to make a collective impact. Ms. Sturgis stated that home footprints have increased since the Master Plan was initially developed. Member Chodash questioned whether the Village can’t say no or have a moratorium on new single family home construction that increases the impervious area. Village Engineer Kendzior replied that the neighborhood would have to submit a APPROVED MINUTES OF A SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT COMMISSION May 29, 2014 Page |2 majority signed petition to request a new zoning restriction like this. There is also the issue that this type of restriction would possibly lower home values and create a difficulty selling properties as “tear-downs” candidates. Member Hoeft indicated that he lives close by this area on Illinois Road and is affected by flooding issues. The street has a drain which is directly in front of his house. During a heavy rainfall the sewers “bubble out” and due to the absence of check valves the yards fill with water. A neighbor that has lived there for over 60 years has never seen it so bad as the current situation. Member Hoeft questioned if check valves could alleviate the problem. Chairman Burke questioned whether we can install check valves with public funds. Village Engineer Kendzior indicated no because these check valves would be on private storm sewer lines. If the Village participated some way in their installation, there could maintenance issues with who would responsible party. Member Sturgis responded that it is the public sewers that are causing the problem so why not use Village funds to help? Village Engineer Kendzior stated that flap gates have already been installed on the Village’s trunk sewers before they discharge into the West Fork at Illinois Road, Maple Ave. and Oak Ave. The Village could possibly re-visit the eligible items for the Private Property Drainage Reimbursement Program to include backflow devices on private storm sewer lines, if deemed appropriate. Village Engineer Kendzior indicated that the size of the private storm sewer lines have to be kept at 4-inches due to the conveyance constraints of the main line system, and there is only so much surface runoff these private sewers can accept. Member Rago stated that we can’t change gravity and this problem is very old. Was it ignored or is it too expensive? Village Engineer Kendzior reiterated that the “Cattle Pass” relief swale was constructed a number of years ago and the Master Plan does have proposed projects that will offer this area some additional flooding relief when constructed. It was further mentioned that perhaps trying to eliminate some outside sources of flooding, installing a pump station or encouraging wetland areas in the rear 10 ft. of back yards all could all be effective to reduce the flooding impacts for this area. Chairman Burke stated that rear yard flooding is okay, it’s when structures are affected that there is a concern. Homeowners need to make some improvements such as raising window wells to help flooding. In conclusion, Member Chodash did not think that the Northbrook Manor Subdivision qualified for an additional project to be added to the proposed Addendum #2. Member Kaplan agreed. The discussion was then closed on the subject. The Commission members decided that the best course of action would be for Ms. Sturgis to work with her neighbors to see if they could complete a multi-property drainage improvement project as part of the Village’s Private Property Drainage Improvements Reimbursement Program. Discussion of Proposed Addendum #2 to Master Stormwater Plan: No representatives from any other neighborhoods were present. This area will not be able to be added to the Addendum #2 but can be discussed on a future agenda. Village Engineer Kendzior indicated that he will now assemble the background information package for the proposed Addendum #2 to the Master Plan and provide to the consultant (HLR, Inc.). The three proposed projects to be included are: 1) Willow Creek Subdivision local storm sewer improvements; 2) Wendy Drive and; 3) First/Center block. New Business: None. Next Meeting: To be announced. APPROVED MINUTES OF A SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT COMMISSION May 29, 2014 Page |3 Adjourn: On a motion made and seconded, the meeting adjourned at 8:05 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Colleen Brunner Minute Taker