PTC decides to pay $400K for houses rather than $1.7 million for repairs
The Peachtree City Council by a unanimous vote on May 21 agreed to purchase two residential properties for which the city has liability due to structural flooding problems.
A May 19 letter from the city’s Stormwater Utility Manager Mike Madison proposed that the council approve the purchase of two residential properties, at 202 Driftwood Land and 402 Harbor Loop, for a total of $397,500. Both houses are in the Fishers Bank subdivision off South Peachtree Parkway.
The letter noted that staff on several occasions has responded to structural flooding issues at the two residences, with Madison noting that the properties flooded in 2009 and again in 2012.
The flooding issues were investigated and staff instructed consulting stormwater engineer Integrated Science and Engineering to develop a conceptual plan for a new stormwater pipe system that would alleviate the flooding.
Madison said the engineer was also asked to prepare a cost estimate for the proposed storm drainage improvements. The design and construction of the overflow stormwater system project by ISE was expected to total $1.7 million.
There is an issue of liability given that the subdivision was built in the 1970s and the stormwater system has to be adequate to prevent future flooding, Madison said, adding that no other property owners have reported structural flooding.
The nearly $400,000 amount approved by the council is included in the current Capital Improvement Projects budget and has been on the books for several years.
The houses can either be sold in part or in whole or can be removed with the lots subsequently used as greenspace and planted with oaks and other hardwoods, Madison said.
