One of the residents returned tonight to ask for a explanation. She broke down at the podium.
The Commissioners rationale was they did not want to set a precedent for other residents to come to the township for flood funding.
My issues with this decision was two fold. A precedent was already set by a previous board. The 2009 board worked with FEMA and PEMA to fund buyout for sever repetitive losses per lehigh valley hazard mitigation plan. (LMT highest risk) Secondly, this attitude is basic burying our heads in the sand that development in LMT has affected the flood plains.
I met and visited with one of the families making the request a few weeks ago. They purchased their home in 1996. PRIOR to the building boom where we experienced 40% growth in a decade. Also I have lived next to this river for almost my entire life of 33 years. And yes, it’s always flooded. The difference now is the frequency and the rate/speed it rises. Don’t tell me that development hasn’t affected the flow rate. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.
It’s important to note that not only did the greater building boom happen after but for a specific example the Wal-Mart swale was approved in 1999 and built shortly after. I firmly believe that the Wal-Mart swale (that floods out Spring Creek Rd. after most major rain events) is a major contributor to our flooding issues. The backflow is a significant cause of flooding upstream of Mill Creek and Spring Creek Rd. As most township residents can attest and have seen first hand, the waterflow across Spring Creek from Wal Mart and other points into Upper Macungie Township north of Hamilton Boulevard resembles a raging river during floods. Also take a look at the 4 seasons bridge sometime after a flood. Tell me it isn’t holding back the river. I have no idea how it’s allowed to be so low. (in contrast to the new pedestrian bridge at graymoor which was built with a higher span as to not impede the flow of the river)
There are basically two possible scenarios here:
1. Flooding wasn’t as bad when Ancient Oaks was approved and it has gotten worse since then due to twp. development decisions.
or
2. The flooding was this bad when Ancient Oaks was built. In which case the twp. approved homes in a known flood plain. (due to developer pressure to maximize profits?)
Either way, doesn’t the township bear some responsibility?
It is unfair to blame these residents for “purchasing flood prone property” when either a poor decision allowed for houses to be built where they should not have or the sprawling development that our leaders have allowed for 2 decades have increased flooding issues AFTER the residents 2/3 residents seeking a buyout purchased their homes.