City staff ask to reopen drainage easement after grading caused neighbor drainage damage

Public Works staff told the Tulsa Public Works Committee that a portion of a drainage easement in the Brook Havenus development needs to be reopened so that grading and reshaping work can be done to address new drainage damage reported by an adjacent property owner.

Paul Zachary of Public Works said the item had been tabled previously because an address transposition appeared on the RFA documents; staff asked the committee to waive council rules and approve the ordinance on first reading so the developer and staff can remedy ongoing drainage impacts to a neighbor. “We need to correct this issue. There's been some grading and drainage that has gone out there that has created some issues for adjacent properties,” Zachary said. He described the area as a reserve and a drainage easement and said staff are working with the landowner and developer “to make it right with his neighbors.”

Zachary said that without reopening the easement the grading could not be cured and that the neighbor immediately to the left had experienced drainage issues and damage that were not present before the work. He recommended reopening the easement and later engaging in reshaping or additional engineering as needed.

Committee members asked questions and took notes; staff emphasized that reopening the easement is a technical step necessary to allow corrective grading and drainage work to proceed. The committee did not record a formal vote at this meeting; staff said the item was timely because the committee will be off the following week and delaying the item could create longer-term complications.