Agenda - 05-01-1996 - IX-A - Laserfiche WebLink

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is acre and the village option, and would be implemented after the issues of groundwater availability and community wastewater disposal systems were resolved. A question was asked as to whether the County has the ability to turn down a proposal based on the availability of groundwater. Staff Comment One way of approaching the issue of cluster developments is to think about how a cluster can be designed without utilizing community wells and community wastewater disposal systems. Shown on the following page are sketches of a one-acre and a half-acre cluster. In the one-acre cluster, a well site and septic field is shown on each lot. In the half-acre cluster, a well site is shown on each lot but the septic field is located in an off-site easement. The ha f-acre lot arrangement is based on the provisions of Section IV-D-10-G.3, Cluster Option, which permits a septic system and/or well site to be located in an open space area provided it does not occupy more than 50% of the conservation area nor any part of a Primary Conservation Area It is an arrangement advocated by Randall Arendt; e.g., off-site septic systems, and one which has precedent in the county, e.g., Windy Hill Subdivision on University Station Roam It is also an arrangement which produces practically the some pattern of well sites as the one- acre cluster, suggesting that the impact on groundwater supply is no different than that of a one-acre cluster. With regard to the issue of whether a subdivision can be turned down based on groundwater availability, the answer is not unless the Board changes current policy. There are provisions in place, however, which achieve the same goal. As an example, the Board recently approved the preliminary plan for University Manor Subdivision, including the proposed location of a community well Before final plats may be approved for recording, the developer must drill a test well to insure that an adequate water supply is available. If the test well produces sufficient water, the final well is installed in accordance with state and local standards If the test well does not proriiice, another well site must be selected and tested and may result in some rearranging of lots to provide the needed site. In the case of lots nerved by individual wells, e.g., the cluster examples, the developer is not required to insure that an adequate well site is located on each lot before the final plat is recorded This practice &ffers from the requirements applicable to sewage disposal systems wherein the developer must insure the presence of a satisfactory septic field Nevertheless, because a potable water supply is required by both building and health codes, an adequate well site must be available before a certificate of occupancyfor a home will be issued With regard to the issue of community sewage disposal systems, the Board could adopt a policy prohibiting the use of such systems in "small-lot" cluster developments until the financial security aspects have been addressed by the County