Town moves to end Petty flood issue

Committee attempts to prevent flooding in Cranbury.

By: Matt Kirdahy
   The Township Committee approved a plan Monday to scrape away soil adjacent to the asphalt along Petty Road to prevent flooding.
   The committee approved the plan by a vote of 4-1.
   Committeeman Alan Danser abstained because he lives in close proximity to the area.
   The project is expected to start in the spring and should take a day to complete, said Township Administrator Fred Carr.
   The swales, the shallow trough-like depressions on the sides of the road next to where the scraping would be done, carry water mainly during rainstorms or when snow melts.
   Township Engineer Cathy Marcelli conducted a field inspection on the storm drainage at Petty Road and concluded that the scraping should be considered.
   Petty Road was given a routine makeover in 1996. The road was broken up and milled, which is when the base is reestablished, the top is shaven and then re-paved.
   The road is 16 feet wide and residents on either side have complained about excessive water runoff onto their property during storms. The soil eventually absorbs all of that water, Ms. Marcelli said.
   Some Petty Road residents said the improvements could make flooding worse in some spots.
   Petty Road resident Reese Powell said the scraping would take up a portion of his front yard and water could saturate his and his neighbors’ property, potentially damaging lawns and landscaping.
   "When you make these corrections I want to make sure it’s aesthetically correct," Mr. Powell said. "With the proper seeding."
   Mr. Powell also said the improvements are a temporary fix and that the current system is good enough.
   Committeeman Michael Mayes said if the improvements don’t work, the committee will make additional changes.
   However, Mr. Powell said the improvements could make flooding worse in some spots.
   "As far as I’m concerned, it’s simply a Band-Aid on a temporary wound," he said.
   Committeeman Richard Stannard agreed that if new problems arise there, they will be dealt with.
   "It’ll be a quick fix, but indeed a fix" he said. "It’s worth a try."