The Chateau Eau Plaines subdivision is located south of Highway 50 and west of 104th Avenue. The subdivision was platted in the 1970’s with the first phase constructed in 1977, prior to the time that our community had taken control of its own planning and development process. The first phase of the subdivision was constructed with a rural road design which relies on roadside ditches and culverts to convey storm water west to the Kilbourn Road ditch. The manner in which the ditches were constructed has resulted in a history of drainage issues and complaints. In addition to the ditches being flat, sump pumps in the area are very active, causing nuisance conditions. In response, the Village has completed past studies and design work to address the conditions, however, no solutions have yet been implemented. A summary follows:

• In 1992, drainage conditions were studied and a storm sewer was designed for the area. The wetland area between the developed and undeveloped portions of the subdivision was being designed as a detention facility. The improvements were not constructed at the time due to resident opposition to the related assessment costs.

• In 2004, the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission published the Des Plaines River Watershed Plan that included modeling of the waterway in the Chateau Eau Plaines subdivision. The report identified the waterway and the wetland area as floodplain.

• In 2008 and 2009, large storms caused significant damage to homes in the area, causing residents and the Village to revisit the drainage matter.

• In 2009, the Village submitted a CDBG-EAP grant application for several areas in the Village, including Chateau Eau Plaines. While the Village received grant funds, the awarded funds excluded the Chateau area.

• In 2011, the Village hired a consultant to complete a Storm Water Management Plan for the neighborhood and applied for a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant. The Village did not receive the grant, however, the plan was completed and identified several alternative solutions.

• Between 2012 and 2014, the Village pursued a storm water improvement concept including a new storm sewer in the rear yards between 115th and 112th Avenues and a wetland scrape to lower flooding elevations along the major storm water conveyance route. The design could not proceed due to wetland permitting issues.

PROJECT UPDATE
In 2015, the project is now being modified to include a storm sewer design following 79th Street between 115th and 105th Avenues and drainage improvements that will minimize impacts to the existing wetland area. The Village recently issued a request for proposal for professional design services. Staff expects to recommend an award a contract at the September 21 Village Board meeting (held in the Village Hall auditorium at 6:00 p.m.).

After a contract has been awarded, preliminary fieldwork and investigations will begin anew. Residents in the work area can expect to receive a notice regarding the preliminary work once the contract has been awarded. Once preliminary investigations are complete, engineers will begin design work. Once a new design has been engineered, residents in the area will be invited to a public meeting to review the design, ask questions, and offer comments.