Agenda - 01-14-1986 - Laserfiche WebLink

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SYSTEMS TO DEVELOP AT NEAR-URBAN DENSITIES. WHEN IMPROPERLY OPERATED AND MANAGED, SUCH ON-SITE OR SMALL-SCALE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS CAN PRESENT A NUMBER OF PUBLIC HEALTH RELATED PROBLEMS. FURTHERMORE , IF AN AREA UTILIZING THESE TYPE SYSTEMS IS ANNEXED BY A MUNICIPALITY, THE OWNERS OF LAND IN THE ANNEXED AREA WOULD MOST LIKELY BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE SMALL-SCALE SYSTEMS WITH PUBLIC. WATER AND SEWER FACILITIES, IF THIS IS REQUIRED AS A RESULT OF THE ANNEXATION. THOSE OUTLYING AREAS WHICH ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE ANNEXED IN THE FUTURE SHOULD BE DEVELOPED AT URBAN OR NEAR URBAN DENSITIES ONLY IF THEY UTILIZE PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER SERVICES OR PROVIDE WATER AND SEWER FACILITIES WHICH CAN EASILY BE INCORPORATED INTO THE PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS AT THE TIME OF ANNEXATION . EASEMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE ORDERLY, FUTURE EXTENSION OF PUBLIC WATER AND/OR SEWER FACILITIES MUST BE RESERVED DURING THE PLANNING PROCESS. AN ISSUE WHICH IS OF CONCERN TO THE COMMUNITY IS THE PROTECTION OF UNIVERSITY LAKE WATER QUALITY. OWASA HAS STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE ADOPTION OF REASONABLE MEASURES TO CONTROL THE ADVERSE WATER QUALITY IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. AT PRESENT. ORANGE COUNTY' S POLICY STATEMENT WHICH PROHIBITS PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER EXTENSIONS INTO THE UNIVERSITY LAKE WATERSHED, EXCEPT IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. DIFFERS FROM THE TOWN OF CARRBORO' S POSITION ON THIS ISSUE . OWASA DOES NOT HAVE A POLICY WHICH PROHIBITS SUCH EXTENSIONS INTO THE WATERSHED. HOWEVER , WE ALSO DO NOT PROMOTE SUCH EXTENSIONS. PROVIDED THERE ARE ADEQUATE LONG-TERM ASSURANCES THAT SUCH EXTENSIONS WILL NOT RESULT IN INCREASED DEVELOPMENT INTENSITY IN THE WATERSHED, THEN CAREFULLY PLANNED EXTENSIONS MAY BE MORE DESIRABLE THAN THE ALTERNATIVE OF UTILIZING ON-SITE , OR SMALL-SCALE SYSTEMS WHICH ARE PRONE TO IMPROPER OPERATION AND ULTIMATE FAILURE . E OWASA's PRINCIPAL ROLE IS TO PROVIDE WATER AND SEWER UTILITY SERVICES; IT IS NOT THE GOVERNMENTAL UNIT RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANNING AND ZONING DECISIONS. LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES HAVE THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DECIDING WHETHER THE LOCATION, TYPE , DENSITY, QUALITY, AND TIMING OF DEVELOPMENT IS COMPATIBLE WITH LOCAL LAND USE PLANS AND POLICIES. OWASA PLEDGES ITS ONGOING SUPPORT IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LOCAL LAND USE PLANS FOR THE OWASA SERVICE AREA AND WILL CONTINUE TO PLAN AND OPERATE IN A MANNER WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH LOCAL GROWTH MANAGEMENT PLANS AND POLICIES. OWASA SUPPORTS THE COOPERATIVE EFFORTS OF ORANGE COUNTY, THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL AND TOWN OF CARRBORO TO DEVELOP A JOINT LAND USE PLAN FOR THE COMMUNITY. A CONSISTENT DEVELOPMENT PHILOSOPHY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO OWASA. IF THE PLAN AND ASSOCIATED DENSITY LIMITATIONS AND POLICIES ARE FOLLOWED, THEN OWASA WILL HAVE A RELIABLE BASIS FOR PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING WATER AND SEWER EXTENSIONS AND MAJOR SUPPORT FACILITIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THESE REMARKS. (JANUARY 14. 1986) 2