Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
20 <br /> 1 how this system is going to work across the property? Let me add that one reason that I ask is, <br /> 2 those of us who remember the Piney Mountain subdivision on Mt. Sinai Road, it was a <br /> 3 development that had a state-approved system, a pumping system, and it was not adequately <br /> 4 installed or maintained, and the City of Durham and OWASA had to come in through the rural <br /> 5 buffer and bring water and sewer. I'm sure we don't want to get into a situation where we <br /> 6 create a public health hazard. I was hoping that there would be additional explanation of how <br /> 7 this was going to work, especially since we're not privy to the details of the homeowners' <br /> 8 association based on our own regulations. Do we have more information? <br /> 9 <br /> 10 Michael Harvey: Commissioner Jacobs, staff has commented on that issue within the <br /> 11 abstract. What was provided to staff by the applicant in addressing that very question is <br /> 12 contained within additional correspondence, which you will find beginning on page 10. On page <br /> 13 12, specifically focusing on the trail, this was an email from Jeff Masten. Beginning on page 14, <br /> 14 you have the applicant written responses to all questions from the Quarterly Public Hearing, <br /> 15 which includes, beginning on page 23, the applicant provided additional groundwater data to <br /> 16 address this very issue. Ultimately this represents the applicant's response to your inquiry. <br /> 17 would also remind the Board, at the August Quarterly Public Hearing, a memorandum was <br /> 18 entered into the record from the Orange County Health Department. This memorandum <br /> 19 contained a statement by the sanitarian indicating he had no concerns over the system. It also <br /> 20 contained the state-mandated regulatory requirements for off-site systems, specifying how <br /> 21 outside systems are to be operated, functioning, and maintained. I believe comments were <br /> 22 made at the August Quarterly Public Hearing that it would be inspected every five years, that <br /> 23 there were HOA requirements in terms of maintenance and guaranteeing the adequacy of the <br /> 24 system and maintenance of the common septic area. The Planning Board recommended in <br /> 25 addition that the easement language be reviewed and approved by Tom Konsler as well as the <br /> 26 County Attorney before final project location. Unfortunately, specific information was not <br /> 27 provided on the actual pump system proposed for use to get affluent to these off-site septic <br /> 28 areas in order to relay that information to you this evening <br /> 29 <br /> 30 Commissioner Yuhasz: I would like to ask a follow-up question about that. These remote <br /> 31 systems are individual systems in a remote area, not a common system, is that correct? <br /> 32 <br /> 33 Michael Harvey: That's correct, and that's one of the conditions. <br /> 34 <br /> 35 Commissioner Yuhasz: So, if there was a failure, it would be a failure of just one system. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 Michael Harvey: That's correct. <br /> 38 <br /> 39 Commissioner Yuhasz: So it's really not the same kind of situations that we faced at Piney <br /> 40 Mountain where there was a community system that failed catastrophically and affected many <br /> 41 houses. <br /> 42 <br /> 43 Michael Harvey: Not knowing much about Piney Mountain, I'm sorry for my ignorance. <br /> 44 <br /> 45 Chair Pelissier: I want to follow up on that too. I think I read in the abstract somewhere that <br /> 46 those sites had to have a repair site as well. <br /> 47 <br /> 48 Michael Harvey: That's a correct statement. <br /> 49 <br />