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Committee debates drainage, paving and Cheney Woods road projects; asks for engineering estimates before votes
Summary
Committee discussed $1.3M for townwide drainage and paving, highlighted Bragdon Road and Ocean Avenue drainage needs tied to high tides, and debated whether unpaved Cheney Woods should receive a $500,000 paving and drainage appropriation without engineering estimates and clearer development history.
Committee members spent substantial time on the capital improvements program (CIP) items covering drainage, paving and a proposed $500,000 allowance for improvements to an unpaved section of Cheney Woods Road.
Staff presented a $1.3 million combined proposal for townwide drainage and paving, explaining roughly $964,500 of that total is maintenance paving. Members asked to separate paving from drainage in budget presentations so the town can track paving-specific spending and to ensure drainage/culvert work is not conflated with routine pavement maintenance.
Two drainage projects drew particular attention: an Ocean Avenue location where repeated short heavy storms and high tides produce standing water, and a culvert on Bragdon Road that has been on prior lists for repair. Members asked whether the observed flooding is primarily a maintenance/clearing issue or a symptom of sea-level rise and higher groundwater. Staff said some sites can be improved by cleaning and restoring outfalls, but others will require larger replacements and permitting because of marsh and tidal connections.
On Cheney Woods Road, the committee questioned whether a full $500,000 is appropriate now. Members noted some segments include Land Trust property and limited existing development; committee members asked whether phased work (e.g., paving only the residential segment) or engineering estimates would be a more targeted approach. Concern was raised about setting precedents for paving unpaved roads that developers previously built on without a requirement to pave.
The committee did not adopt CIP spending on these items at this meeting. Members directed staff to obtain engineering cost estimates, permitting timelines (including any DEP or tidal permits), and to return with a prioritized list and individual project cost breakdowns so the committee can make informed funding decisions.
