Gillespie Property Includes a Large Amount of Wetlands Prone to frequent flooding and an Abundance of Wildlife

Four Mile Creek Greenway borders along the Gillespie Property for nearly a mile. The Four Mile Creek Floodplain surrounds the Gillespie Property on three sides and occupies nearly 12 acres of the property. Added to the property in the late 1960's is a 2.5 acre now mature man made pond that also is part of the associated Four Mile Creek Watershed 

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This vast amount of wetlands and water as well as the proximity to environmentally sensitive wetlands creates substantial concern regarding the massive development planned for the Gillespie Property.

The above aerial photo shows the Gillespie Property and the outline of the Four Mile Creek Greenway in "Bright Green" as well as the blue shaded area that illustrates the FEMA floodplain and flood ways within the Four Mile Watershed. You'll notice that the Gillespie Property includes more than 20 percent land mass within the FEMA flood plain. These wetland areas are subject to frequent flooding.

These wetlands area serves as a filter, cleansing stormwater runoff, and is home to numerous fish, reptiles (possibly including the Eastern Spiny Softshell turtle) mammals and waterfowl. 

Piper Glen's 1st and 10th, as well as portions of the 2nd and 11th Fairways were designed within this flood plain in mind because they were unsuitable for housing.

The amount of impervious surface in the Rea Road area and the resulting runoff has increased dramatically in the last ten years, so much so that the area floods yearly rather that once every 50 or 100 years. Recently it has been as frequent as 2 and 3 times per year. 

The above photo shows the TPC Piper Glen Driving Range on February 14, 2023. The Gillespie Property and Rea Road is just beyond the second tree line. (Notice Glen and Piper's nest to the left). 

According to the USGS the February 14 flooding of the Piper Glen driving range and the northern section of the Gillespie Property was not a flood event as Four Mile Creek was actually within its normal banks in most places. 

The proximity to Four Mile Creek and these "wetlands" will force the Gillespie Property developer to squeeze the development into the left southern 2/3rds of the property and the resulting solution is six story apartment buildings that will tower above the treeline.

Piper Glen's 11th Fairway on September 8, 2020. The Gillespie Property is to the left (west) and also under water.

For these reasons any development of the Gillespie Property is troublesome. The development of the property as proposed by Russell Ranson and RK Investors is an environmental disaster in the making. 

Credit Both Photos Above: @TPCPG Steffie Safrit, Director of Grounds at TPC Piper Glen - Who without endless effort and the welcome support of his staff much of Piper Glen would not be the same.