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062 Ow2 '. (.) r.-, , " )' October 25, 1999 Town Supervisor/Town Board Town of Wappinger P.O. Box 324 Wappinger Falls, New York 12590 ~ ~ ~ ~ n ~\ ~ \." .':,'_',~ "~" -J \..... - ,- ."', z" 1# 4:... t\ tA. ((\0' ~... . 'r'~'. ~ Attn: Constance O. Smith, Supervisor Subject: 4 & 6 Rich Drive Drainage Problems Dear Supervisor Smith: To date, I have not received a response or an acknowledgement from you or the town board regarding the letter dated September 20, 1999 (copy attached) written by Town of Wappinger Consulting Engineer, Joseph E. Paggi, covering the significant drainage/runoff problems we've "inherited" as a result of the newly constructed home on All Angels Hill Road and the improper construction and installation of a "drainage swale" along the westerly property line. The drainage runoff entering the northeast section of the Rich Drive properties (as outlined, witnessed and verified by Mr. Paggi during his inspection of September 15, 1999), is dumping water, along with dirt and clay (flowing like the "Wappingers Falls") onto our properties, through our rear yards, damaging landscapes, flooding the exterior of our homes, driveways and my garage. NEED I SA Y MORE!!! This is not a normal runoff of water and I can assure you, was not "unique" to the heavy rains from Hurricane Floyd. On three occasions prior to Hurricane Floyd, during heavy rains, the same problems developed. We called your office expressing our concerns at those times. With the heavy rains we normally get each spring, the problem will only get worse and the runoff will ultimately end up in the interior of our homes. This has occured on two of the previous three occasions mentioned. During the last heavy rain we were at home and able to set up several pumps to keep the water from reaching and damaging the interior. The damage to our landscapes was costly and the clean-up of driveways and garages took more than two weeks to complete. In addition, this is not only a "significant" water drainage issue but is also a safety issue. If any children got caught in the flow of this water serious injury could have been caused. In the fall of 1998, prior to the sale of the lot and constuction of the home on All Angels Hill Road, Mr. Roger D' Aquino, residing at 4 Rich Drive, Mr. Steve Saroka, residing at 4 Tor Road and I attended a zoning board meeting. At this meeting we specifically identified the wet-land problems with the lot on All Angels Hill Road and the impact it could have after excavation and construction applicable to water drainage to Rich Drive . We were assured that our concerns, with respect to water drainage, would be addressed and documented in the construction plans and that at a minimum, a "drainage swale" in some "unconcentrated form" would be installed. It's obvious, from the problems we're having and Mr. Paggi's letter, that the "swale" installed is not "adequate" and needs to be redefined and constructed as originally approved. In summary, and since the Town of Wappinger Building Inspector approved and inspected the the All Angels Hill Road Site to allow the issuance ofthe"Certificate of Occupancy", please advise what actions you and/or the the Town Board are taking to correct the drainage problems specifically defmed and recommended by Mr. Paggi on page 2, paragraph 3 (items 2 and 3) of his letter of September 15. Item 2 requires interface, coordination and action by the Dutchess County of Public Works to correct the flows of water that exits the 15" highway culvert on All Angels Hill Road. I believe its time for the town to justify and insist upon the need for the construction and installation of a storm drain to properly correct and fix the problem. Item 3 is the Town of Wappinger's responsibility and corrective actions should be identified, scheduled, and taken as soon as possible. As home owners, we have been residents ofthe Town of Wappinger for the past 18-22 years and are very disappointed and troubled by the lack of interest and attention you have given this very "significant" problem. Your early attention to this matter and prompt favorable response is requested. Very truly yours, ~~~~ Michael Horan (' 4rnt,6 ::oDrive ~~ t 4 Rich Drive cc: Hon. Joseph Ruggiero, Councilman Hon. Robert Valdati, Councilman c: e "'l?J I u I.lVlltl'0 PAGGI, MARTIN & DEL BENE LLP Consulting Engineers & Land Suroeyors 54-56 Main Street Poughkeepsie, New York 12601 9H--.t71-7898 914-471-0905 (FAX) September 20, 1999 Town Board Town of Wappinger P.O. Box 324 Wappingers Falls, New York 12590 Attention: Constance O. Smith, Supervisor Reference: Rich Drive/Drainage Dear Supervisor Smith & Board Members: On September 16th, 1999, in the afternoon, I received a call from Mrs. Horan of 6 Rich Drive. She explained to me that runoff coming from the All Angels Hill Road area and a newly constructed home on said road, was inundating their rear and side yards, and driveway. At her request, I made a field inspection of the site at 4:45 p.m. that afternoon. There was a significant amount of runoff entering the northeast corner of their property from the newly constructed home on All Angels Hill Road. The flow was concentrated along approximately 10' of their property line. I followed the flow of water to the discharge of an existing 15" culvert at the west side of All Angels Hill Road. A significant amount of runoff was exiting this culvert. An inspection of the east side of All Angels Hill Road revealed a roadside ditch draining to this culvert on All Angels Hills Road. As you recall, this was during the height of Hurricane Floyd, and therefore, the amounts of rainfall were very intense. I traced back my steps to the re~r of the Horan property and noticed that a small amount of flow was being carried by a swale along the rear property line of the newly constructed house on All Angels Hill Road, but the majority of the flow was breaking through the rear property line and inundating the Horan lot. The runoff was draining across their rear yard, to the house and driveway, and as a result, actually entering the garage. The next morning, I reviewed the preliminary plot plan for the newly constructed home along All Angels Hill Road. This plot plan showed a swale along the westerly property line, which was designed to carry the runoff to the extreme southwest corner. We conditionally approved this preliminary plot plan with the understanding that the swale be terminated back from the property line so that it would discharge in sheet flow form rather than concentrated. Joseph E. Paggl, Jr., P.E. Ernst Manin, Jr., P.E., L.S. Charles R. Del Bene. Jr., P.E. Constance O. Smith Town Board Re: Rich Drive/Drainage - 2 - September 20, 1999 A review of the final plot plan shows the swale generally existed in unconcentrated form, but as in most cases, we do not field verify these maps. However, we recommended that the Building Inspector should verify that, in fact, the swale does exist, and that it does not discharge in a concentrated form. On today's date I spoke to the Building Inspector. He verified the fact that he did inspect the site at the time of the Certificate of Occupancy issuance, which was last March, and felt at that point in time, that it was adequate. At this point in time, I advise and recommend the following: 1. The swale along the westerly property line should have been constructed as originally approved. This should be done at this point in time. I happened to run into Mr. Pingitore, who is the owner of the newly constructed house on All Angels Hill Road, on September 17th, 1999. He indicated he would install some fill he had on the property and hand excavate a swale across his westerly property line. This swale should end at approximately 60' north of the southerly property to allow the flow to dissipate over a larger area. When this is complete, the homeowner should contact the Building Inspector to inspect the work to verify compliance. Constance O. Smith T own Board Re: Rich Drive/Drainage - 3 - September 20, 1999 If there are any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact this office. JEP:law cc: Hon. Vincent Bettina, Councilman Hon. Joseph Paoloni, Councilman Hon. Joseph Ruggiero, Councilman Hon. Robert Valdati, Councilman Hon. Elaine Snowden, Town Clerk Albert P. Roberts, Esq. Paul Foody Mr. & Mrs. Horan Mr. & Mrs. Pingitore