Environmental Commission updated on Burnet Road drainage concerns

Chuck Lesniak from the city’s Watershed Protection Department gave the Environmental Commission an update during its Nov. 4 meeting on flooding concerns around the Charles Maund Volkswagen dealership on Burnet Road. Allendale residents had recently filed complaints about excess flooding in the area around the dealership, suspecting that the drainage near the dealership was being clogged. Lesniak said that city staff had gone out to inspect the site and that long-term employees at the dealership claimed there had never been a drain there. Commissioner Peggy Maceo, who has lived in that neighborhood for 40 years, contradicted the employees’ testimony and said that the number of dealerships on Burnet has exacerbated the problem. “All the runoff on Burnet goes west,” she said. “It’s become a huge problem.” Lesniak said that upcoming drainage improvements on nearby Madison Avenue may help decrease the runoff on Burnet. He also expressed gratitude for the residents reaching out. “We always encourage people to call 311,” he said. “It’s very helpful to us.”