KATY, Texas — Many found out the hard way during Harvey how building in a floodplain can backfire. Some victims never knew their homes were constructed in areas meant to flood.
Now we’ve learned a developer may do it again near Katy.
“When we moved out here 20 years ago, we were the first and only home out here,” said Jim Fieser.
Fieser lives near 320-some acres of land off Freeman Road where a subsidiary of Lennar Corporation is planning a development.
“It’s typical of what’s going on all over Houston,” said Fieser.
According to planning records and published reports, some of the property sits in a flood way.
That’s defined by the Harris County Flood Control District as “an area where the water is likely to be deepest and fastest.. and should be reserved (or kept free of obstructions) to allow floodwaters to move downstream.”
“When we build in a floodplain, we’re endangering these new buildings that we’re building,” said UH architecture professor Donna Kacmar, a residential building expert. “But also everything that is downstream from that.”
Kucmar said that even when properties are built up higher than floodplain levels, surrounding areas may still be impacted in a heavy rain or flood event.
“So, if we don’t protect the natural waterways, we’re repelling the flow of water,” said Kucmar.
It remains unclear exactly how many new homes may go up on the Katy-area property, but Fieser suggests potential buyers ask about flooding.
“And the realtors have to disclose that,” said Fieser. “So they need to ask a realtor.”
Friendswood Development nor its parent company, Lennar, called KHOU 11 News back.
But a representative told our partners at the Houston Business Journal that the project was still in its early stages and they had no comment.