Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 21, 2002 Memo from Brad W.GARY D. SMITH, P.E. PUBI.IC WORKS DIRECTOR BRAD R. WATSON, P.E. CITY ENGINEER CITY OF MERIDIAN PUBLIC WORKS / BUILDING DEPARTMENT MAYOR ROBERT D. CORRIE COUNCIL MEMBERS KEITH BIRD TAMMY DE WEERD CHERIE MCCANDLESS WILLIAM L.M. NARY TO: FROM: CC: DATE: SUBJECT: Mayor Corrie and City Council Gary Smith, PE and Brad Watson, PE Planning & Zoning Department, City Clerk 5/21/2002 Comprehensive Plan - Urban Service Planning Area HAY 21 ?.002 CITY OF MERIDIAN Mayor Corde and Council Members, We have reviewed the language in the proposed Comprehensive Plan regarding the Urban Service Planning Area that was adopted by the Planning and Zoning Commission in 2001. This section of the preposed Comprehensive Plan (p. 83 of the March 2002 draft) causes the Public Works Department great concern as currently drafted. It is significantly changed from the odginal language in the June 2000 draft. We offer the following comments regarding past development applications within the Area of Impact but non-contiguous to existing City limits: When Powder River and Westbomugh Subdivisions were proposed in 2001, Public Works staff was directed to submit written comments and provide in- person testimony against both projects. We spent at least a total of 100 hours researching their proposed utility systems, meeting with the applicant, DEQ, calling the Montana DEQ where these wastewater systems had been installed, preparing for testimony and providing that testimony before the Ada County Planning and Zoning Commissioners and Board of Commissioners. While Public Works cited numerous technical and master planning reasons why the two projects should be denied, we believe from listening to the Ada County Board of Commissioners that the pdmary reason it was denied was that it conflicted with the City's Comprehensive Plan. We asserted the following technical reasons for denial of the proposed Powder River and Westborough projects: · Conflict with master plans. It is very difficult to set sewer elevations given minimum grades; no ability to collect assessment or hookup fees; may prevent upstream preperty owners who want to connect to City system from doing so. h:~14\comprehenSive plan-uspa.council memo.doc 660 E. Watertower Ln., Suite 200 Meridian, Idaho 83642 Public Works (208) 898-5500 Building (208) 887-2211 Fax (208) 887-1297 · Financial reliability of small-scale wastewater system. Pdvate systems provide no long-term financial plan with their development applications. If HOA is unable to operate, maintain and repair system, City of Meridian may be forced to accept sub-standard system by DEQ/CDHD at high costs. · Anti-reQionalization. While area governmental entities seem to be cooperating regarding inter-agency agreements (transportation, water quality, storm water, dust abatement), proliferation of community-scale wastewater systems is a step backward. · Land-application recluired of effluent. Each community-scale wastewater treatment system would have to have a land application site for their effluent. · Additionally, no coordination would exist between Meddian Public Works and Meridian Fire Department regarding fire hydrant placement/street widths, turning radii or emergency access. Public Works personnel do not have the resources to evaluate every single privately built water and/or wastewater system for conformance with our master plans that is proposed outside City limits. We will not be able to collect review or inspection fees from these projects. If the City intends to someday take over these systems, however, we MUST review and inspect each one. The City's ratepayers and annexed developers will subsidize these tasks. Taking these comments into account, we offer the following two revised statements to replace the 3rd through 5th sentences of the March 2002 paragraph pertaining to the USPA. Also included in the table is the option of leaving the paragraph as it is. Pro's and con's, in the opinion of the Public Works Department, are listed for each of the three alternatives. Thank you for your consideration. h:Vn14\comprehensive plan-uspa.council memo.doc Comprehensive Plan- Urban Service Planning Area Option A Urban density development outside City limits will only be considered with an annexation application and if connected to City of Meridian water and sanitary sewer systems where the extensions to and through those developments are constructed in conformance with the City of Meridian Water and Sewer System Master P/ans. Pro · Conforms to current Council policy · Would not allow provision of water and sewer services without annexation. · Ensures new development within Area of Impact contribute Park impact fees. · Brings new development into City tax base. · Allows City to receive building permit inspection fees. Con No flexibility for considering urban density development that cannot be annexed Restricts land development to areas contiguous to present city boundades. Option B Urban density development outside City limits will only be considered if connected to City of Meridian water and sanitary sewer systems where the extensions to and through those developments are constructed in conformance with the City of Meridian Water and Sewer System Master P/ans. Pro Provides flexibility to consider non- annexable applications as long as connected to City water and sewer Ensure City's ability to impose conditions upon development as condition of providing water and sewer service. Con · Could lead to providing water and sewer services without accompanying annexation unless agreement to annex provision is in a deed restriction. · Potential lost Park impact fees · Loss of building permit inspection fees. Page I of 2 Option C Leave language as currently proposed. Pro Provides ultimate flexibility to pdvate development Con · Will lead to patchwork development without regard to water and sewer master plans. · Will allow other private water and sewer utilities to establish service areas within City impact area. Sewer service may be in the form of a sewer district that is difficult to dissolve when City services are able to connect to it. · If development is approved without consideration of City master plans, may prevent upstream property owner's ability to develop with City water and sewer service. · Leaves control of approving urban density development in our impact area to Ada County with only recommendations from City. Our Impact Area Agreement states ... "Such input from Meridian shall not be binding or controlling on the County, but shall be treated as documentary evidence." · City loses ability to collect building permit inspection fees. Page 2 of 2