The project will cover the construction of Owens Road and the future development of 540 acres west of the airport. Of the 540 acres, 228 are owned by the city and 312 are owned by the nearby municipal utility district.
"Recent flood events affected the Police and Fire Training Facility, Sugar Land Regional Airport and the Central Prison Unit properties," Sugar Land City Engineer Jessie Li said in the release. "The 2015 Memorial Day flooding event and Hurricane Harvey highlighted the need to better protect our airport and address development opportunities of nearby properties. Not only will this project remove these areas from the 100-year floodplain, it will also remove commercial areas across [Hwy.] 90A from the floodplain."
The project will include a wet detention pond, channel improvements, a weir diversion structure, drop structures and diversion channels from Oyster Creek to Bullhead Bayou, according to the release. Planning and an environmental study will begin after the loan is finalized in December. According to the release, project planning, design and construction is expected to take about two and half years.
"We continue to look for creative approaches to deliver projects that meet the needs of our citizens," Li said in the release. "These drainage projects have been identified as a top priority for our residents, and we're proud to be able to deliver them in a fiscally responsible manner."
According to the release, additional benefits of the project include storm water storage, which aims to minimize adverse impacts upstream and downstream; increased protection from Oyster Creek; and the reduction of excessive silt and storm water runoff.
The funding, which will come from the TWDB's Flood Infrastructure Fund, will pay for the planning, design and construction of the project, according to the release. The TWDB is the state agency tasked with collecting and disseminating water-related data; aiding with regional water and flood planning; and preparing state water and flood plans. The loan has a zero percent interest rate, saving Sugar Land residents about $14.4 million, according to the release.
The TWDB administers cost-effective financial assistance programs to aid in funding the construction of water supply, wastewater treatment, flood control and agricultural water conservation projects, according to the release.
“The city envisions a private-sector partnership to develop a business park catering to light-industrial and aviation-related businesses,” the release stated. “Expanding Sugar Land's already strong economy ensures new revenue streams that fund the high level of services residents expect while maintaining one of the state's lowest tax rates.”
