talk to forestry and conservationist in the area and see if you can get them to help you out and do some research. I had a problem in our area (we are in a 100 yr flood plain) with some work that had changed elevations and water flow on property behind us, this was causing major damage to the trees and wildlife in the area. Once forestry got involved believe me everything came to a screeching halt and it ended it. They had to come in and correct all they had done. However in our case much damage had been done to the beautiful natural forest area and literally a hundred or more huge trees were killed in all this mess. The changes in elevation would have caused all water run off to wash out several of the properties including mine and neighbors, which in a flood plain is absolutely forbidden. I am not sure how much this ended up costing them but I know there were many officials that came and walked through there and many violations were cited.

My hubbys a builder,he has to go thru township before building,they do a study on the lot to make sure its not in flood plain.In Pa you cant build on wet lands they found too much wildlife lives there.You could contact county officials and voice your concerns.

I am surprised that FEMA can 'authorize" this. Check with your local county/city building codes and local flood control agency.

Our city engineer has reluctantly OK'd these plans. On paper, he can't prove that the plan wouldn't work. The city is always afraid of being sued.

Last ditch effort is to see if the Building Review Board can nix the project. However, the only portion of their charter that obtains here is that a proposed building 'fit the site'. (I think the plan should fail on that point. There may be a style that would work -- a contemporary on pilings? -- but this plan tries to alter the site to fit the building plans.)

Is anyone familiar with this kind of proposed foundation/water-retention facility? I hoped that a forum member who lives near a waterway might have heard of this. The lot owner's engineers claim this will *improve* the flooding along the waterway!

At the last BRB meeting city staff recommended the lot owner legally assume responsibility for damages. That's nice, but I can't see how he could make whole all the homeowners affected if we all flood. We'd all have to sue, etc., etc. Big mess.

I wonder what the lot owner REALLY wants. Maybe he could 'donate' the lot to the city, which would then officially declare it what it IS, a wetland, not buildable. The owner could stop paying RE tax and possibly qualify for a charitable deduction. The city wouldn't have to DO anything with the land except leave it alone.

Meanwhile...how to keep kicking this can down the road until it goes away?

It sounds like the city engineer needs to do some more investigating. What are his qualifications? What about city codes, As to see/review the code books. How up to date are they? How does FEMA really figure into this? Ask for an Environmental Impact study on trees, animals and endangered species, even a fly, or bug. Get together with your neighbors to form a committee and know your facts to present them at future meetings or at the board of supervisors/city council. Good luck to you

I would think that you (the other homeowners) would have to at least talk to a structural engineer and/or green architect to see if he/she knows this type of structure.

I know from landscaping that there are HUGE underground rain barrel type things that hold water and then reuse it. Here's an article that might be applicable to what you are dealing with:

http://vwrrc.vt.edu/swc/NonPBMPSpecsMarch11/VASWMBMPSpec6RAINWATERHARVESTING.html

I wouldn't know if your situation has this type of thing in mind. If this is a brick house, why would twigs and other refuse damage it? I don't get that part of your comment.

I live in greater Chicago as well. Our entire region has clay soil and it always is wet. I don't know how the soil factors in, but I'm sure it does.

I don't think a city employee is going to help. I suggest other progressional help. But you are going to need someone, I think, who is very familiar with green building practices.

Show up at EVERY meeting that's held re this permit. And make noise.

also start with the neighbors and the local home owner associations get everyone and I mean everyone to put their names on petitions so you can have that to present at any meetings to show how many are affected and opposed, every family member can sign since they would all be affected.

Seriously get forestry and conservation involved. They know how to stop things till all is determined to be safe and that in itself could put it off long enough to kill it.

I can not believe FEMA would approve, there is one lot here in our subdivision that floods regularly and it has been deemed non build-able, FEMA bought it out, no structure can be put there.
If it goes through I would gather those same petition signers and present a legal document to that land owner stating if your land is damaged by his actions you will all sue. He may not want to chance that.