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County flood study finds 11 homes at risk in Wesley Woods; full culvert upgrades could cost more than $1 million
Summary
Union County engineers told the Indian Trail Town Council that 11 homes in the Wesley Woods area are subject to flooding in a 25‑year storm, multiple road crossings overtop in model runs, and full upgrades to five crossings could cost roughly $1.25–$1.5 million while a limited package targeting two crossings was estimated at about $250,000–$315,000.
Brian Hawkins, Union County’s stormwater engineer, told the Indian Trail Town Council that a recent joint flood study of East Fork/12 Mile Creek tributaries identified existing flood hazards in three neighborhoods and several crossings that overtopped in model runs.
The study found that 11 homes would be flooded during a 25‑year storm and that the number rises under a 100‑year event. "There are already 11 homes subject to flooding during a 25‑year storm event," Hawkins said. The analysis showed all five studied road crossings overtopped in the modeled events; failure of certain crossings could cut residents off from emergency access. Hawkins said that if Brandon Court’s crossing failed, eight homes would lose access, and failure at Woodhurst Drive and Houston Drive could isolate about 36 homes.
The consultant evaluated several mitigation alternatives. Replacing or upsizing culverts under all five crossings — described by the presenter as a major upgrade across the Wesley Woods network — was estimated in the consultant’s briefing to cost roughly $1.25 million to $1.5 million. Hawkins said a narrower alternative that focused only on allowing a 25‑year event to pass without roadway overtopping (upgrading key crossings) was estimated at roughly $250,000 to $315,000.
Hawkins described why some neighborhoods are vulnerable: many homes sit in low spots “built in a bowl” and the original storm infrastructure dates to the 1990s when design storms and standards were lower. He also explained the limits of pond modifications: enlarging the Taylor Glenn Pond would not substantially reduce risk to the homes identified, and a complete redesign and new outfall would be required to have meaningful effect.
Council members and residents asked whether houses were slab or crawlspace; Hawkins said the study treated a home as at‑risk when floodwaters could reach its foundation and that many appeared to be crawlspace construction. He urged outreach to homeowners who may not realize they sit in mapped Zone X areas that could affect flood insurance rates.
The town did not vote on any capital commitment at the meeting; Hawkins and staff said the study establishes priorities and cost ranges for council consideration. Staff indicated follow‑up work would be required to translate the recommendations into engineering scopes, easements and budget requests for future Council action.
