Agenda - 06-28-1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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' - - --Orange county adopted the "rural buffer (RB) designation with 1 unit per 2 acre minimum lot size . 12 --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, --no extension of water and sewer service into the watersehd except , perhaps, to serve cluster developments near existing service ; and, --no use of alternative waste s stems because of their greater unreliability. --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 pollution in the watershed" ; 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 DEM'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 .