Stormwater wears down a community, reinforces maxim of ‘buyers beware’

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Behind homes in the Parsons Run subdivision lies a stream, its banks gnawed away over the past couple of decades. Homeowners are at a loss of what to do.

Many sections of the stream are stagnant, deemed a future mosquito haven. Erosion has caused trees to buckle and topple, blocking water flow and collecting piles of waste. And in the summer, residents say the area reeks of sewage.

Just above the stream, on the other side of the backyards, is Chattahoochee High School. Homeowners say runoff from the school’s property has contributed to a repository of random objects in still water.

Neighbors have seen sports balls, cross ties, a school desk. They fear the football field bleachers, which are in eyesight, will fall in, too.

The situation at Parsons Run is part and parcel of what prompted Johns Creek to implement its Stormwater Utility in 2021. Each year, residents foot a $70 bill to fund a multi-million-dollar city-wide stormwater management program.

Dave Daniels and his wife Stephanie have been in Parsons Run since 2005. With a face of exhaustion and previous futile attempts to remove heavier trees, Dave led a tour along the stream March 21 to point out key areas where stormwater has taken its toll.

Some professional tree companies told Dave they couldn’t do anything because they would need a permit to use heavy equipment in the area. State regulations around natural waterways create a tedious process for any major work.

“If the citizens can't do it, it comes down to the government,” Dave said.

But because the stream runs along private property, Johns Creek has no jurisdiction.

Cory Rayburn, Johns Creek stormwater utility manager, said the city doesn’t have a mechanism to send out a contractor.

Some of the issues stem from the school-side, Fulton County Schools’ territory. On March 21, Anne Boatwright, a spokeswoman with Fulton County Schools said its Operations Department would need another day to visit the site and investigate. As of March 23, the school district is still investigating the stormwater structures which were designed to reduce runoff from the school.

“We would like to have a conversation about this with the city and [impacted residents] about this …,” said Brian Noyes,

See EROSION, Page 13

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