Stormwater key issue in Presbyterian Home plan

Watchdog group says system not built to specs

A system designed to stop flooding will be a key issue at today's Hollidaysburg Planning Commission meeting.

The Presbyterian Village of Hollidaysburg's plan for a new parking lot will include a rain garden, a type of infiltration basin system, to the east of the lot. The system is designed to manage excess rainwater runoff from the lot. The plan says water from the rain garden will pipe to the Presbyterian Village's existing stormwater management system when waters exceed 100-year storm levels.

However, the existing stormwater system was not constructed in accordance with "as built" conditions, according to Gary Wisor, engineering adviser to the borough who works for Stiffler McGraw Engineers, Inc.

Wisor said the planning commission will now hear from the new project engineer, ELA Group Inc. of State College, on whether changes to the system are in order or, conversely, receive justification for why no changes are needed. ELA Group was not involved in the planning of the existing stormwater system.

Wisor said he expects the system to "be brought to an acceptable condition" before piping would connect it with the rain garden. He expects the issue to be discussed at today's Planning Commission meeting.

Regis Nale, a member of the Hollidaysburg Community Watchdog, said the group suspects that the increase in frequency and severity in flooding of the lower Gaysport area was due to the stormwater system not built to specifications.

"Before any design was approved, we were assured by the Presbyterian Senior Living's (previous) engineer that post-construction stormwater would be less than pre-construction," Nale said. "We have lost confidence in that."

Nale said Keller Engineers of Hollidaysburg, the previous engineer, made that assurance.

Keller Engineers declined to comment.

Nale praised Wisor and Gerald Harbison, director of planning and zoning for the borough, for "all of their work" -- particularly in getting the existing stormwater system closer to "as built" conditions.

Nale added that his group supports the borough's requirements for a crosswalk from the parking lot to the Jackson Street sidewalk, along with specific vegetation which would act as a barrier for an adjacent property.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the meeting will be held electronically via the "GoToMeeting" platform. To access the meeting via phone, dial 571-317-3112 and, when prompted, enter access code 211-004-181 to join and participate in the meeting.

To access the meeting digitally, visit: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/211004181.

Public comment may also be submitted by mail to 401 Blair St., Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 or via email to

gharbison@hollidaysburg pa.org so long as it is received prior to the meeting.

Mirror Staff Writer Dom Cuzzolina is at 946-7428.