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Prestonwood West homeowners urge Arlington council to partner on stormwater repairs after 2018 dam breach
Summary
Multiple Prestonwood West residents told the council that a 2018 emergency dam breach increased erosion and flood risk and cited independent engineering estimates that stabilizing the channel could cost more than $10 million, asking the city to provide engineering and leadership rather than leaving the matter to litigation.
Several homeowners from the Prestonwood West neighborhood told the Arlington City Council during the citizen-participation segment that erosion and increased stormwater velocity following a 2018 emergency dam breach have created ongoing public-safety and financial risks.
Jim Brace, a Prestonwood West homeowner, said the city's 2018 emergency action to breach the dam "permanently altered the waterway" and that independent engineering estimates show stabilizing the channel and protecting homes would cost "over $10,000,000," which he described as an unrealistic burden for a 31-home HOA. Brace said the damage is not routine neighborhood maintenance but a city-scale infrastructure failure.
Bruce Hammond, another resident, said the HOA lacks reserves and borrowing capacity to cover the estimate (he cited $10,500,000 in his remarks), that 13 of the 31 homeowners are retired and on fixed incomes, and that a special assessment would be devastating. Ellen Wilson described faster, deeper flows through the channel and recounted a storm event that swept a vehicle into the waterway, underscoring her public-safety concerns.
Wayne Halford said residents understand council limitations on discussing active litigation but urged the council to "meet with us and help guide a path forward in a non litigation setting," specifically asking for city-led engineering, integration into broader stormwater planning, and a coordinated solution rather than protracted court proceedings. Robert Blake reiterated the request for council involvement and said the issue has grown more costly and dangerous over seven years.
Speakers repeatedly asked for city partnership and engineering resources; the transcript shows the council listened but recorded no directive or formal vote to commit city engineering resources during this meeting. Several speakers referenced independent engineering estimates; the underlying reports were not presented in the public transcript and should be requested from the speakers or city staff for verification.
The council adjourned after member announcements; no council action on the Prestonwood West requests appears in the recorded meeting minutes.
