Good
afternoon County Executive Alsobrooks, Board of Education Members, and Agency
Directors,
On behalf
of Council Member Anderson-Walker, I would like to share the situation of two
District 8 residents impacted by stormwater flooding. Our office received the
photos and videos below from homeowners, one of whom lives on Swan Creek Road,
not far from the proposed Southern Area K-8 site. Their video
shows stormwater being propelled out of the storm drain. We
continue to feel helpless and disheartened with every instance of flooding
devastation that comes in front of our team...no family should have to endure
this.
In addition to the video we've seen of the flooding at 106
Swan Creek Road, we also have Zaneta's video at 12707 Norwood Lane on August 13,
2020, and there's video taken by
Virginia Boldon on the same day
at 105 Swan Creek Road. **Videos are hyperlinked**
Ms. Walthour,
who lives with her mother on Norwood is not only faced with caring for her
aging parent but is now worried about what they will be facing with the pending
school construction and the likelihood of increased flooding that can further
impact the home their family has lived in since 1984. Flooding also totaled the
mobility conversion van Ms. Walthour used to transport her brother who was
wheelchair-bound.
Zaneta
Walthour: "Like so many in our community, I
attended the meeting with the County Executive who has indicated that the
County intends to proceed with the proposed K-8 school project on Swan Creek
Road. However, the infrastructure cannot support this undertaking.
The recent maintenance performed by the County has not resolved the issues
presented on August 13, 2020 and will not resolve the new issues presented by
the proposed school site if they proceed without delay. The clearing of
the new school site will only speed up the timeline for the imminent
catastrophe posed by this public safety hazard."
There continues to be anxiety and concern about the Southern
Area K-8 site, more so once the trees and existing vegetation are cleared. We
recognize and appreciate the efforts being made to begin addressing stormwater
management, but unfortunately, the frequent "rain bombs" won't hold
up to fit that timeline. I was driving in a downpour earlier today and my
thoughts were heavy for the homeowners who are battling the deluge.
In a
separate issue, last night, another of our community advocates shared an email
from a Fort Washington resident about a new development project that is now
creating flooding in their basement and impacting other homes on Pitt
Drive. Can anyone share a bit more on
this project and whether anything is being done to address the flooding that
Mr. Dixon described (below)? For
location context, Pitt Drive is near to the Asbury/Halwood area where the
failed retaining wall has led to condemned two homes.
Freddie
Dixon: "My name is Freddie Dixon and my home is on
Pitt Dr., directly behind construction. Since they started digging holes for
the basements my backyard has flooded when it rains. I contacted the county,
but was informed it could take up to 30 days for someone to contact me. I am
afraid my basement will flood before then."
Thank you
for taking the time to review this lengthy email, but we wanted to keep
everyone abreast of the ongoing concerns for homeowners, especially those who
are on Swan Creek Road.
Thanks
and best,
Marise Gibbs
Legislative Aide
& Scheduler to
Council Member
Monique Anderson-Walker, District 8
Click
here for the Council Member's 2019
Year End Review
County Administration
Building
14741 Governor Oden
Bowie Drive
Upper Marlboro, MD
20772
District
8 Website