Agenda - 08-23-1999 - D4 - Laserfiche WebLink

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„y , l >: Orange Water and Scwcr Authority February 11, 1999 rage 20 William Strom said the notion oL OWASA extending lints into an interest area to remedy an adverse public health emergency t-as'signiticant impact on potential for sprawl and potential Cor making land developable that does not pert. Mr. Strom said his understanding is that the sizing of lints is a tool that attemptr to restrict tap-ons and avoids unattended consequences oC remedying a health emergency. William Strom said he is comfortable with the language in the agreement that the lines should be sized to address that emergency if that is possible. Patrick Davis said a concern was raised with the Piney Mountaia Subdivision project. There were engineering sizing requirements and constraints at fhe State of North Carolina level that required the infrastructure to be sized for peaking factors that were mandated by the State and would impact this issue. Mr. Davis said the ~vay to address it would be to point out that it is sized to serve only the intended use but in accordance ~~ith the sizing requirements determined by the State. Patrick Davis said implications should be recognized if the decision is made to limit capacity. Mr. Davis said there is also a related issue that has to do with improvemcntr and lines that have excess capacity. For example, the Rangewood Subdivision's force main had to be 4", the pump station had to be a certain capacity, and when that is done there is automatically excess capacity because the pump station is only pumping a certain number of hours during the day. The agreement is structured so that if Orange County wanted to locate a school facility or a human resource center and hook onto the force main to take advantage o[ the excess capacity, the agreement would prohibit that from occurring. An investment already made could not be used more cost~ffectively to support public facility development. Patrick Davis said there ought to be the ability to use lines and facilities that serve public emergencies in appropriate ways to support essential public facilities. Alan Rimer said OWASA could probably meet the volume and pressure considerations with a 4" water line to serve a community of houses with problems. Fire protection could be provided if the size is increased to 6". Mr. Rimer suggested that the bene[itr of fire protection be considered. Alan Rimer asked Robert Epting if it is possible to restrict ~vho taps on to water lines. That getr to the point of increased facility needs for the public for fire protection but prohibits houses from connecting. Robert Epting. said the Chapet Hill Town Attorney and the Orange County Attorney have a friendly disagreement on that point. Orange County by its ability to require building permitr controls tap~ns. Mr. Epting said OWASA could get special authority is that regard if it needed it. However, many developers could see that as a method for limiting development. Robert Epting said if tap-ons are restricted, how can the lines be afforded to serve a few people who are experiencing the problem if the only way to run the lines is by assessment. William Strom said in response to sizing the lines to accommodate fire, there is an "avoid sprawl" mentality. It is in the preambles in Orange County's Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Strom said that if someone buys a house in the watershed where there is no fire service and the community has a water emergency, he does not feet an obligation to provide fire service along with rescuing them from a water problem. Orange County can restrict building permits and control zoning, there is turnover on the various boards and different political will existr. Lt seems that utility growth takes on a life of its o~vn and if capacity is there, it usually getr used over a period of time. .Patrick Davis said once tines are extended to alleviate a public health hazard, there should not be a prohibition on connection of essential public facilities. Tlic Board was in agreement that the Collo~ving arc t[ic unresolved issues: 1. Is the TO\vR of [iillsborough in or out and what dots tl-at mean?; 2. Does tlic Qoard agree that O~~'ASA should enter into an agreement to deGnc the retail service area?; L~ `~' ~p• 32