Owner Impacts to Stormwater Management System

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA

MEMORANDUM

DATE: January 27, 2009

TO: Kelly Zedek, Code Enforcement Officer

FROM: David Hays, P.E., C.F.M., Land Development Manager

RE: Catalina Oaks Subdivision
Owner Impacts to Stormwater Management System

Several home owners, over the past, have requested approval to install improvements within the Drainage Easements (D.E.). In general, they have been denied by Public Works / Engineering as a manner of protection against adverse drainage impacts. Over the course of the last couple of months, I have made several site visits and met with some of the POA board members (coordinated with Bob Scully) as well as a representative from SJRWMD. What the investigations have determined and an outline for reference to allow prudence for the individual home owners are itemized below.

Investigation Determinations

1.The integrity of the drainage facilities had been largely ignored over time other than surface maintenance, ie., lawn maintenance.
2.A severe breach was discovered at the outfall structure. Water was not retained on site as designed due to a breach in the berm along the side of the outfall structure which allowed the runoff to discharge directly to an off-site ditch without treatment.
3.The underdrain had not been cleaned.
4.Multiple home owners had installed vegetation within the D.E.
5.Multiple home owners had installed various types of rear porches, decks or steps within the D.E.
6.Most homes along the southern side had 3-6 feet of relatively level ground from the rear of the home before the slope to the swale.
7.One home owner (lot 40) had installed two decks across the swale along the southern property line. One of the decks was installed across that property and the adjacent lot 41.

As a result of the investigations, the POA was notified by SJWMD to address some issues including restoring the integrity of the outfall at the structure. It is my understanding that all items brought to the attention of the POA have been adequately addressed. The POA has been advised that the properties along the south side will likely see higher water levels and water remaining for a longer period of time than what they are accustomed too as a result of the repairs to the drainage system.

Platted Drainage Easements

The northern 25 foot wide D.E. was constructed and operates significantly different than the southern 34 foot wide D.E.. The northern easement (specifically across lots 12-33) contains a very shallow swale (1 foot or less) between the houses and rear (north) property line. There does not appear to be any significant drainage flow east-west across properties. The southern D.E., (specifically across lots 1-8, 36-52) contains a significant swale (approximately 3 feet deep) that provides for the storage and treatment of a majority of the subdivisions storm water runoff. With this understanding, the basins (northern / southern) can be addressed in different manners with regards to allowance of improvements. Each easement contains the sites required landscape buffer along the property line.

Recommendations
The following are recommendations that should allow for the continued integrity of the storm water management system while at the same time provide guidelines for what a home owner can expect to be allowed to do within the drainage easements. All requests must be submitted in writing and follow the same procedures as are current policies and practices.

Northern basin
1.Flat decks that are installed above the ground should provide no adverse impact to the system and could be allowed.
2.No storage systems that are installed on the ground or have the lowest member within one foot of the ground will be allowed.

Southern basin
1.Flat decks/porches may be allowed for a depth of 5 feet from the wall. Further depth would have to be site specifically reviewed and approved.
2.No storage facilities will be allowed.
3.No improvements will be allowed south of the center line of the southern D.E. swale.
4.Steps may be installed down the northern side of the swale that do not include filling of the easement area.

It is also recommended that any proposed improvements obtain the POA’s approval prior to requesting the county to review.