City studies Dews Drive flooding; staff to return cost estimates for curb-and-gutter, ditch upgrades or property purchase

The White House City Council heard a technical presentation on Sept. 23 about chronic flooding near 107 Dews Drive and along the length of Dews Drive. Staff described hydrologic findings, four improvement alternatives and the trade-offs for rights-of-way, easements and remaining localized flood risk.

Staff engineer Blake Whitney told council most runoff from the adjacent Reserve Apartments is captured in two detention ponds and does not substantially add to flows on Dews Drive, but the culvert at Highway 110 and Dews Drive is likely undersized for a 10-year storm and 107 Dews Drive sits in a local depression, which makes it especially prone to flooding. Staff presented four options: (1) widen the roadway to a 32-foot section with curb-and-gutter and an enclosed storm sewer system (which would require additional right-of-way or easements and multiple outfall easements), (2) improve ditches to handle up to a 25-year storm (requiring relaying the road in places and possibly additional right-of-way), (3) investigate restoring or using an historic open-back inlet and the capacity/condition of the culvert along Highway 110, and (4) purchase the low-lying property at 107 Dews Drive and repurpose it as detention or an underground facility.

Whitney explained that “107 is still in a low spot, so you would still have some flooding localized there,” even under options that capture more roadway runoff; options that add closed storm sewer or widened road sections would reduce some sources of water reaching the property but would not eliminate all localized runoff from adjacent private lots. Staff noted ditch alternatives are constrained in places by adjacent storage units and businesses and that some options would require surveying and easements where county parcel lines and the city's assumed right-of-way do not match.

Council discussed funding and property-owner cost participation. Staff explained that the city commonly uses a special-assessment model for curb-and-gutter improvements that allocates a pro rata portion of project costs to benefitted property owners via their property tax bills. Council asked about the relative costs: staff said they did not yet have estimates and that cost analyses are the next step. The council asked whether purchasing the property outright might be less expensive; staff noted they could explore that option, but they can’t force a sale and eminent-domain condemnation would not meet eligibility based on the information provided.

Staff recommended a combination of Option 1 (curb-and-gutter with closed storm sewer) and Option 3 (investigate the open-back inlet and culvert capacity) as the most beneficial path forward. Council directed staff to return with cost estimates, a survey to determine right-of-way and easement needs, and procurement or funding options (including special assessments and whether property purchase is feasible).

Key facts and clarifications from the meeting: - The culvert at Highway 110/Dews Drive appears undersized for a 10-year storm (staff cited TexStar requirements for that class of culvert); the current roadside ditches do not meet a 2-year standard in places. - Option 1 would require additional right-of-way and multiple easements to outfall to the west; staff estimated an average additional width of 4–6 feet may be required in constrained sections. - Option 2 would bring ditches up to a 25-year storm capacity but has limited space near storage units and businesses. - Option 4 (purchase of 107) was raised as a potential permanent mitigation but staff stated they had no information that would permit forced sale and that the property owner’s consent or negotiated purchase would be necessary.

No formal ordinance or vote was taken on Dews Drive; council provided direction to staff to investigate costs, survey needs and funding/method options and to report back.