Chapel Hill Flooding Issue

Lancaster Court has a long, hazardous history of flooding thatthreatens the property value of Chapel Hill and the safety of its residents.

Several concerned residents have asked:

• 
  "What happens to our land value if Chapel Hill becomes known as a
  flood community?"
  

• 
  "Who is liable if a child or adult is injured--or drowns--when
  playing in the flooded waters?"
  

• 
  "How can we prevent the flooding, instead of just managing the
  drainage issues?"
  

• 
  "If I was to sell my house in the near future, do I have to
  disclose that we have flooding and drainage issues?"
  

This petition is the start to resolve those inquiries.

As recent as July 12, 2017, flood heights in Lancaster Court reached the
highest it’s ever been—completely engulfing the entire court and
surrounding neighborhood yards. Flood levels reached ashigh as 6 feet in one area and 150 feet wide in another. The cause of the flooding is due
to a combination of drainage problems (clogged and/or ruptured) and flood
routing.

On that day, 10 children under the age of 12 were seen
near the court & yard floodings -- exploring and wading through the
waters. As evident by the attached photos and videos, innocent play could
quickly turn tragic:

• 
  nicked by broken glass
  

• 
  cut from a sharp rock
  

• 
  slipping, falling
  

• 
  unconsciousness
  

• 
  drowning…
  

For both children and adults alike, the potential for accidents is severe,
and the ensuring outcry for liability would be swift.

Currently, the flood routing drains directly into Lancaster Court, which is
then funneled below Ela Road and into Braemar Pond. The Village of Deer
Park has acknowledged the draining/flooding issues and hired Chris Burke
Engineering to assess and propose solutions.

Unfortunately, their (3) proposed options do not prevent water flow into Lancaster Court—in
fact, they actually increase the speed—or amount—of water flowing into the
detention area just west of the court between Jeff/Chris and Beth/Mo. Due
to the existing drain cloggage and rapid overflow, that area wharfs so much
water that it has all but ruined the once-usable yard, turning into a
silt-filled marsh. Please see Chris Burke's Stormwater Master Plan for
details at http://tiny.cc/6aaomy,
specifically pages 15-20

All of the 3 proposed fixes will still flow water to the current areas and
still pose dangerous circumstances for the court residents and negative
property values in the community. It’s causing soil erosion, which will
continue to de-value the land.

Our drainage area harbors the overflow water from Walmart, Regal Cinemas,
D&W Fine Pack’s retention pond and the Quail Run neighborhood. With all
the water from those areas, ensuring proper drainage & water flow is
paramount to our community.

Flooding and drainage issues can lead to short- and long-term property
damage that could have a lasting, negative impact on both the resident
safety and economic value of our community. As one of the luxurious
communities in and around Deer Park, maintaining Chapel Hill's highest
level of property value will be paramount to ensuring that our community
investment is preserved and our residents are protected in the years to
come.

If the flooding is not PREVENTED, we are
putting our residents in danger every time it rains and jeopardizing the
property values of our community.

If Chapel Hillians rise up together and become one voice for change, then
we can prevent these dire circumstances from worsening.

.