This story was originally published in the Union Leader Tuesday Morning and was not available online. It is reprinted here with the written permission of the author.

By Alec O’Meara

Residents of Brookview Drive asked the Conservation Commission to help finance the destruction of their homes for the greater good last night.

However, reaction to the proposal was mixed from the handful of Commissioners present for the discussion.

“It (Brookview Drive) has been mentioned a few times in the past, but no one is sure what to do about it,” Conservation Commission Chair Deb Lievens said.

Three separate times this spring, the four properties at the end of the south Londonderry cul-de-sac have found their homes surrounded by at least foot of water due to the heavy rains that have soaked the state. Neither flooding event was considered a surprise for residents or the town’s public safety officials, as Brookview has now flooded five times since 2006. Altogether, 30 separate flooding events have been recorded on the street over the last 36 years.

On the eve of the third storm, residents met with State Senator Sharon Carson, Town Manager Dave Caron and State House Representative Al Baldasaro to discuss potential options to find a permanent solution to the flooding issue. General consensus during the meeting was the best solution would be to raze the four homes at the end of the street and create a larger drainage area. Caron said one possible option would be to secure funding for the purchase of the four lots through open space money used by the Conservation Commission to buy conservation easements. Conservation purchases are made though funding from the town’s land use change tax, a different revenue source than the rest of the municipal budget.

The cost of purchasing the four lots has been tentatively estimated at $800,000-$900,000, by Caron.

Last night, Brookview Drive resident Carmen Zavorotny met with the commission to suggest such a purchase. Only three commissioners were present: Lievens, Gene Harrington and Ben Lebrecque.

“It is a beautiful, beautiful area. I just wish it was three feet higher,” Zavorotny said.

Lievens said the Commission would consider the request when the full board was present at a future meeting. However, Lievens said she was unsure whether the board had the funding currently to cover the cost. Other commissioners not present for the meeting had expressed a concern the purchase of the four lots would set a poor precedent for the community, she added.

“Those are the two issues we will have to mull over,” Lievens said.

Harrington said on top of the cost, more studies may be needed to see whether razing the four properties would make a significant difference to the flood plain.

“Looking at that area, it may make an inch difference, if that,” Harrington said.

Without a quorum present, no vote was taken by the Commission. Lievens said the issue would likely be brought up again at the board’s next meeting, which is currently scheduled for Tuesday, May 11.