Agenda - 06-05-1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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--Orange county adopted the mrtiral buffer (RB) designation with 1 unit per 2 acre minimum lot size . --The NC Division of Environmental Management (DEM) classified University Lake as a "WS-I " watershed--its highest rating, after extensive study and public hearings. • --The OWASA study by Camp, Dresser , and McKee concluded that . protection of already threatened University Lake required • at least the following: • --development at no oreater than, 1 unit per 5 acres; or, --density of 1 unit per 2 acres only with structural "BMP's" ; that is, wet detention ponds which are publicly, owned and maintained; or, --clustering in which approximately 85 percent of the land remained permanently undisturbed;. and, --use of individual septic systems as the prefered means of waste disposal ; and,. - - - e-x tens i on---of-water---an-d -sewer-serrctrze' intim- the ---- " - watersehd except , perhaps, to serve cluster developments near existing service ; and, --no use of alternative waste systems because of their • greater unrelia.bility. --The DEM, permitting agency for Amberly's waste treatment system, held in Carrboro its first ever public meeting on a non-discharge system because . Citizens and public officials, including Orange County Commission Chair Moses Carey, ,urged extreme caution in protecting the watershed. • --DEM Director Paul Wilms turned down Amberly's permit stating the development "will allow urbanization of the watershed, and, therefore , will not be compatable, with the requirements" for WS-I watersheds. Specifically, Mr. Wilms found that : • • 1 ) The development and its waste waster treatment facility "are not in . accordance with the requirement that the . • watershed remain in . a natural and predominately unihabited state" ; • 2) "The development will contribute to nonpoint sources of • " • -poltutron-ln -the7-Wailif.-thedn ' 3) "The development could significantly compromise the pristine quality of Morgan Creek" ; and, 4) "All of these factors could exacerbate the quality and • eutrophic status of University Lake, particularly with • regard to nutrient loading, which' in turn would, comproimise the quality *and use of the' Lake as a drinking water source . " . . . --The State Environmental Management Commission (EMC) upheld OEM's decision to reject the Amberly permit . • ---,The developer of Amberly announced his intention to redesign - the project to make it "consistent with the recommendations of the OWASA study. Specifically, he • will submit plans with no more than 1 unit per 5 acres, reducing the number of houses from 157 to about 40 . • I