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14 <br /> The Board of Commissioners directed staff to develop a process by which variances could be <br /> considered in a more expedient and inexpensive manner, and suggested that a window of time be <br /> established within which multiple variances could be considered with elimination or reduction of <br /> fees. The Planning Staff has talked with a number of property owners around Lake Orange and <br /> explained that option. Only one variance request has been received, since it is generally not until <br /> the owner is ready to build that the septic system is designed and laid out. The Planning Staff <br /> has also been contacted by several potential buyers expressing concern with purchasing property <br /> with restrictions which could prohibit development of the property, and uncertainly as to whether <br /> or not a variance would be approved. <br /> II. INFORMATION REGARDING SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN AND LOCATION <br /> A. SQUARE FOOTAGE REQUIRED FOR SEPTIC SYSTEMS <br /> According to Environmental Health, about 130 linear feet of drainfield line is needed per <br /> bedroom. Trenches must have a separation of at least 10 feet. Under normal <br /> circumstances, this translates to about 2,000 square feet of area per bedroom for the <br /> septic system, and an additional 2,000 square feet of repair area. Environmental Health <br /> has estimated that an additional 20% of area is generally sufficient to accommodate site <br /> constraints. Normal circumstances would include suitable soils, gentle topography, and <br /> limited presence of trees or other physical constraints. <br /> The Rules of Sewage Disposal for Orange County require that septic systems be designed <br /> for at least three bedrooms. Under this provision, a two-bedroom house would still be <br /> required to have a septic system sized for a three bedroom house. <br /> Using the rule of thumb of 2,000 square feet per bedroom for the septic system, 2,000 <br /> square feet for repair area,and an additional 20%to accommodate site constraints, septic <br /> systems require the following land area: <br /> Number of Capacity Minimum Area Required for Septic System <br /> Bedrooms Required and Repair Area <br /> (gallons <br /> per day) Without Site With Site <br /> Constraints Constraints <br /> i <br /> square feet acres square acres <br /> feet <br /> 2 360 12,000 .26 14,400 .33 <br /> 3 360 12,000 .26 14,400 .33 <br /> 4 480 16,000 .37 19,200 .44 <br /> 5 600 20,000 .46 24,000 .55 <br /> Lots approved by Environmental Health during the subdivision approval process generally <br /> have adequate soil to accommodate a four-bedroom house. <br />