Douglas County buys Pamela Place lot for $300,000 to build detention basin after FEMA grant award

Douglas County commissioners authorized the purchase of a one‑acre parcel at 2731 Pamela Place on June 26 to build a stormwater detention basin aimed at reducing flooding in the Johnson Lane area.

Courtney Walker, stormwater program manager, told the board the parcel is a high‑priority site identified in the Johnson Lane Area Drainage Master Plan and in follow‑up technical analyses. The parcel was appraised at $300,000, and the county recently received a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant that will fund $375,000 of the construction with a 25% local match; the county has already allocated $125,000 toward the project match. The property owner agreed to sell the lot at the appraised price.

Walker said the Johnson Lane Area Drainage Master Plan originally identified several detention basins on public (BLM) land; the Pamela Place parcel offers an additional on‑the‑ground location to reduce peak flows that surcharge local ditches and have previously led to debris and mud moving onto private properties. Modeling from the county’s consultant showed the proposed basin would reduce flow depths downstream by tenths of a foot up to about a foot in some locations, which residents and engineers said would materially reduce flooding of driveways and homes.

Neighbors from Bramwell Estates and Amber Rose spoke during public comment in support of the acquisition; several described repeated flooding incidents that forced them to install berms and suffer property damage in 2023. John and Judy Marsh, who live adjacent to Pamela Place, told the board the lot has been part of the flow path during past flooding events.

Commissioner David Tolbert moved the purchase; Commissioner Wes Rice seconded. The board approved the purchase unanimously.

Why this matters: Many areas in Johnson Lane are not within regulated FEMA floodplains but still experience damaging runoff in heavy storms. The detention basin is meant to slow and meter runoff, reduce peak flows downstream and limit repeated property damage in built neighborhoods where prior subdivision approvals did not reserve a dedicated basin site.

Next steps described by staff: design the basin with community input, construct the detention facility using FEMA grant funds and county match, and then assign long‑term maintenance to the county’s stormwater maintenance division. Walker said the county expects to complete design and begin construction within the FEMA grant timeframe and that the county may request a short time extension from FEMA if necessary.

Speakers quoted: Courtney Walker (Stormwater Program Manager); residents John and Judy Marsh; Steve Cardoza. Commissioners participating included Charla Hales (chair), David Tolbert, Wes Rice and Dan Gardner.

Ending note: Commissioners thanked staff and neighbors for collaboration; the approved purchase eliminates the prospect of a home being constructed on the site and preserves the parcel for public stormwater control.