FM 1485 Storage Expansion — Storage Facility Civil Engineering in New Caney, TX
New Caney · Montgomery County · Texas
Commercial & Retail Development
Expanding a storage facility with a limited outfall and no land to spare
JRH Engineering provided complete civil engineering design for the expansion of an existing storage facility in New Caney, Texas. The site had a limited storm sewer outfall and the owner wanted to maximize usable area — including, if possible, using the required detention area for additional storage. JRH designed a drainage swale and lift station combination that minimized the pond footprint and surfaced the detention pond with crushed concrete, converting it to dual-use boat and trailer storage when not holding water.
AT A GLANCE
Site civil and drainage design
Full civil design for storage facility expansion including grading, paving, access, and drainage
Drainage swale designed along the access road — directing stormwater efficiently to the detention area while minimizing underground storm sewer requirements
Lift station specified to minimize the required detention pond footprint — a smaller pond and more land available for storage
Detention pond surfaced with crushed concrete — a dual-use design allowing boat and trailer storage on the pond surface when it is not holding stormwater
Permitting and agency coordination
City of New Caney and TxDOT approvals pursued concurrently
Dual-use pond surface design reviewed and approved as part of the drainage permit — storage use on the detention surface documented as compatible with drainage function
Complete submission package on first submittal
The Challenge — a detention pond is dead weight on a storage site
A detention pond takes up space that could be generating storage revenue. The limited outfall condition further constrained the drainage options. The owner wanted to know if there was a way to get drainage compliance without giving up the land entirely.
JRH’s Approach — a pond that earns between rain events
By finishing the detention pond floor with crushed concrete, the pond becomes a usable parking surface for boats and trailers during dry conditions — it drains quickly after rain events and is back in storage service. A lift station reduced the pond footprint, and a roadside drainage swale eliminated the need for a more expensive underground storm sewer along the access road.
The Results
01
Detention pond converted to dual-use storage — the crushed concrete surface allows boat and trailer storage when the pond is not holding water
02
Pond footprint minimized through a lift station — more land available for storage operations
03
Drainage swale eliminated the need for underground storm sewer along the access road — cost savings passed to the expansion budget
04
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the main engineering challenge on the FM 1485 storage expansion project?
A detention pond on a storage facility consumes land that could otherwise generate storage revenue, and the site had a limited storm sewer outfall constraining the drainage options.
How did JRH Engineering turn the detention requirement into a revenue opportunity?
JRH finished the detention pond floor with crushed concrete, creating a dual-use surface for boat and trailer storage during dry conditions, and used a lift station and roadside drainage swale to minimize the pond's footprint and cost.
What were the results of the FM 1485 storage expansion project?
JRH converted the required detention pond into dual-use boat and trailer storage, minimized the pond footprint through a lift station, and eliminated the need for a more expensive underground storm sewer along the access road.