Infrastructure committee approves Lakeside detention pond despite neighborhood concerns

The Topeka City Infrastructure Committee voted July 21 to forward a proposed detention pond along Lakeside Drive to the city council, despite objections from nearby residents who said the plan removes heavily used open park space.

Chair David Banks and Councilwoman Ortiz voted to approve the project; Deputy Mayor Michelle Hoefer cast the lone opposing vote. Chair David Banks made the motion and Ortiz seconded it, and the committee recorded a 2–1 vote to advance the item for council consideration.

Director Davis, speaking for the Utilities Department, said the Lakeside Detention project is one of several stormwater improvements identified in the department's 2020 stormwater master plan and is construction-ready. "This is one of those projects called out in our master plan," Davis said, adding that the work is cash-funded and "estimated at just over $400,000." He said the basin will be a dry detention pond that only holds water briefly after storms.

Stormwater engineer Zach Stevie gave technical details about the plan's grades and slopes, saying the top contour is about 983 feet and the bottom about 977 feet — roughly a 6-foot difference — and that the design uses a gradual 4:1 slope so the basin will not require fencing and will be safe for adjacent park users.

At a podium, Steve Sanford, representing the Westboro Homeowners Association, said the neighborhood had not seen the plan and described the affected area as "a large open green space used by a lot of people for baseball practice, soccer practice, ultimate frisbee, kite flying" and other recreation. "This is a pretty dramatic change, and I think most neighbors are going to be concerned about it," Sanford said, asking the committee to delay approval until neighborhood engagement and to explore moving the detention area to a lower-visibility depression farther west.

Davis acknowledged the concerns and told committee members staff would prepare perspective renderings and "see what kind of wiggle room we might have" in siting and design, while noting that squeezing the pond footprint could make it harder to maintain the 4:1 safety slope. He said staff would provide the neighborhood drawings before the council hearing and would schedule a community meeting as soon as a contractor is on board.

Because the item was advanced, the next procedural step is council consideration. Staff said they will meet with the neighborhood and return to the committee with renderings and additional details before council action.