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Council approves retaining wall request for First Baptist Church Roswell to address stormwater damage
Summary
The Roswell committee approved a plan allowing a U-shaped, cast-in-place retaining wall up to about 12 feet to address a collapsed private storm pipe that has backed up water onto church property and produced mosquito complaints; the item moved forward unanimously.
Jean Payton, planning and zoning director, told the committee the First Baptist Church Roswell is seeking approval for a cast-in-place concrete retaining wall as part of a remediation plan for an ongoing stormwater problem. "The wall at its highest point is approximately 12 feet above grade. It tapers down to 2 feet on both ends," Payton said, adding the wall would be largely out of view from public streets and primarily visible from Mimosa Hall and the adjacent park facility.
Council Member Erin Brumley asked whether the project would create a pond or otherwise retain water. Mr. Watson, a city staff member working on stormwater, said the structure is an outfall to dissipate flow and that "there is not a pond that is created by this." Watson said the wall will surround riprap to slow and dissipate flows into an existing creek downstream.
Council Member Jennifer Philippy raised mosquito complaints and the history of the problem. Staff explained a private 48-inch pipe on church property has collapsed, backing up water several hundred feet and preventing safe use of the rear portion of the property (including a scout hut). Payton said the wall and associated work would address that backup and allow safe reuse of the area.
After questions, Council Member Sarah Bon moved to move the item forward; Mayor Mary Robisho seconded. The committee voted unanimously to advance the retaining wall request.
The decision was procedural approval by the committee to send the retaining-wall application forward for the required reviews (the wall is subject to Historic Preservation Commission review), not a construction authorization. The committee did not set construction contract or funding details at the meeting; those steps will follow the required reviews.
