Flood mitigation projects proposed for the Oakmont Commons housing plan are contingent upon grant funding, Oakmont officials said Tuesday.

The borough applied for $500,000 through the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Flood mitigation Program last July.

It’s a matching grant with the borough projected to shell out 15%, about $75,000, should it be awarded.

“We need to wait for Harrisburg to announce who has been successful in securing a grant,” council President Patricia Friday said. “Like with any grant submission process, there’s that waiting period. Our moving forward is dependent upon getting the grant.”

Senate Engineering submitted plans and models last year to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for review to determine the next course of action in alleviating concerns of dozens of residents impacted by floods in July 2019.

The Commons was among several parts of Allegheny County devastated by those storms.

Borough Manager Scot Fodi said Senate Engineering was moving forward with designs of possible solutions such as raising the elevation of the old Plum Creek railroad bed to provide a barrier for the Commons during storms.

Other ideas include the creation of an area below Crystal Place to contain stormwater runoff and discharge it into Plum Creek, along with back-flow preventors to stop Plum Creek from rising backwards into the system and flooding the Commons from the storm inlets.

“I would say we’re shovel-ready,” Friday said. “Senate has done everything that needs to be done to get started as soon as we hear something.”

Fodi said he hopes to hear back from the state in about March. None of the projects have gone out for contract bids.

“We’re going to wait for the money first,” Fodi said.

A memo was recently sent out to Commons residents by its homeowners association to help keep them updated on the situation.

HOA Vice President Tracey Holst said council understands addressing flooding issues is a top priority.

“They are addressing almost everything that they need to, and I think they are doing very well on our behalf,” Holst said. “With Scot Fodi in his position, I really think they’ve stepped up the attention that we’ve gotten.”

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