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"7 2'7 <br />THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPEN FOR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD OF <br />COMMISSIONERS OR THE PLANNING BOARD <br />Commissioner Willhoit asked what the results would be if the <br />septic easement was not allowed and if there are circumstances that would <br />result in a less desirable outcome for water quality if citizens went <br />directly to the Board of Adjustment rather than using the septic easement' as <br />an alternative. <br />Ms. Willis indicated that in some cases it would be possible <br />that an existing lot could meet current requirements if it could obtain an <br />easement from another lot. However, setback problems are less likely to <br />happen in the future because those requirements will be taken into account <br />when the lot is created. <br />Commissioner Willhoit commented that allowing septic easements <br />as a means of meeting the setback for the septic systems for existing lots <br />might be a workable solution. <br />THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPEN FOR CITIZEN COMMENTS <br />Everett Billingsley stated that cluster development is <br />designed to leave a substantial part of the watershed undisturbed. One of <br />the underlying premises was that a system failure on an individual lot <br />located in a remote area is less likely to be found immediately and <br />corrected. However, with a cluster development a fail)µre would be a common <br />concern. The OWASA Board believes that remote fields"eshould be allowed only <br />..where there is an existing situation. <br />Ms. Willis was asked to determine if two lots could be <br />considered a cluster subdivision. <br />Kent Scott commented that all pump systems are required by law <br />to be inspected and that he believes most off site systems are pump systems. <br />Dolly Hunter, an orange county land developer, spoke in favor <br />of this amendment. Locating septic systems on easements is often a better <br />choice than using the lot itself because the soil on the easements is likely <br />to be of higher quality than the soil on the lot. Also, if the easements are <br />allowed the homes could be placed farther back from the road with the septic <br />system placed nearer to the road. This would encourage clustering. She felt <br />that this amendment would encourage flexibility for the developer and not <br />decrease land values. <br />Steve Yuhasz spoke in favor of allowing septic easements. If <br />the system is remote and fails the owner of the land is sure to take action <br />to get it corrected immediately. He also indicated that there may be only <br />one or two lots which require off site easements. The Health Department is <br />in close contact during the installation of these systems and must approve <br />each one. <br />Geof Gledhill indicated that if the maintenance contractor <br />does not repair an offsite system which is failing, the property owners may <br />take the contractor to court to repair the system.