Du Page County Stormwater Management Committee
September 6, 2005

Proposed “Nelson Meadow” Subdivision
5737 Brookbank Road
Downers Grove, IL 60516

Neighborhood concern about impact on St. Joseph’s Creek South Branch watershed of stormwater from new non-permeable pavements for roadways, sidewalks, and driveways along Brookbank Road extension and Jefferson Avenue widening.

Name:        John Schofield
Address:    1125 Jefferson Avenue, Downers Grove, IL

I am here this morning to update the Committee on the stormwater situation at the proposed “Nelson Meadow” subdivision in Downers Grove. This is just two blocks north of the “Brookbank Prairie” subdivision where there were previous problems with the stormwater permit into the same St. Joseph’s Creek South Branch watershed.

The Downers Grove Plan Commission hearing is next Monday, September 12th. The neighborhood has been unable to get firm answers to some basic questions, in part because the developer has refused to let us have copies of the engineering drawing for independent review by using a provision of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.

We have seen some technical reports – the most recent dated August 8th, 2005 – that model the stormwater off the developed properties. But they appear to omit the stormwater from the additional south and west rights-of-way that will be dedicated and given to the Village of Downers Grove. In fact this is exactly what the developer said in a public meeting on July 28th – that this additional stormwater water was not his problem.

The neighbors are concerned about stormwater from these large new impermeable surfaces – roadway, sidewalks, and driveways – being dumped directly onto Jefferson Avenue and then into the St. Joseph’s Creek South Branch watershed behind our homes. Worse, we are concerned that they will flow across our front and side yards and perhaps into our basements.

We would appreciate the County’s technical assistance in assessing these risks.  Thank you.