Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

TO:	David L. Corliss
FROM:	Chuck Soules
CC:	Cynthia Boecker, Diane Stoddard, Matt Bond, Shoeb Uddin, Dena Mezger, Jonathan Douglas
Date:	February 8, 2008
RE:	North Lawrence Drainage / Proposed Airport Business Park

Attached is a letter received from a concerned citizen with respect to the proposed Airport Business Park project. Bob Lominska requested that Chad Voigt, previous Stormwater Engineer, review the proposed project and provide an evaluation/analysis of the project.

The North Lawrence Drainage Study was completed November 29, 2005 by HNTB. This report recommends a number of infrastructure projects that could/should be completed in the drainage basin to both improve current drainage conditions, and improve current conditions pending development of various areas. Several of these projects would require substantial investment/funding. One of the main goals of the report was to provide the city with a comprehensive study of the North Lawrence watershed that could be used to evaluate the affect of development on the basin, and identify those infrastructure improvements that could be completed with development that would not create any additional drainage problems for North Lawrence.

Drainage issues of North Lawrence are unique. Land typically drains towards bodies of water (Kansas River). As development occurred on the north side of the river, the levee was constructed in 1975 to protect the investments from flooding by the river. The levee closed off the natural drainage of the area. Today North Lawrence drains to several points and is released through flood gates into the Kansas River. When the water in the river rises, however, these gates are closed and the stormwater has to pond behind on the north side of the levee. North Lawrence is predominately flat with very little slope. The sandy loam soils of North Lawrence are beneficial to stormwater management allowing infiltration which reduces runoff and provides some relief from flooding.

The North Lawrence Drainage Study was completed in response to these unique conditions, and to provide recommendations for improvements that could be made to improve conditions. The report was presented and received by the City Commission on February 22, 2006. The City Commission did not adopt the study as a regulation, nor should the study be used as such. Rather, the question that should be answered is at what threshold of development the city should require the completion of the North Lawrence Drainage Study improvements. As Chad also discussed, the study provides developers with the tools necessary to provide complete development proposals and drainage studies.

At this time there is not a financing mechanism identified to fund the improvements recommended in the report. The North Lawrence drainage issues are not the only improvements needed within the city. Additional priorities for improvements exist that would decrease the potential for property damage.

Matt Bond, Stormwater Engineer, has reviewed the correspondence from Chad Voigt and has provided the attached discussion.

Please let me know if additional information is needed.

Respectfully submitted,

Charles F. Soules, P.E.

Director of Public Works

CFS/je

Attachment