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HomeMy WebLinkAboutACSA200800002 Executive Summary 2008-06-04 COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AGENDA TITLE: AGENDA DATE: Bloomfield Road (Gilliland-Fennell) - Request to June 4, 2008 amend the Albemarle County Service Authority Jurisdictional Area ACTION: INFORMATION: SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: CONSENT AGENDA: Public Hearing to amend the Jurisdictional Area ACTION: X INFORMATION: Boundary to provide Water Only to Tax Map 59, Parcel 17B located on Bloomfield Road (Route 677) approximately .5 miles south of the intersection of ATTACHMENTS: Yes Bloomfield Road and Route 250. STAFF CONTACT(S): Messrs. Tucker, Foley, Benish REVIEWED BY: LEGAL REVIEW: Yes BACKGROUND: The applicant is requesting ACSA Jurisdictional Area designation for water service(Water Only)to a 2.2 acre parcel with an existing single-family home (Attachment AThe property is located entirel V the designated Rural Areas, in the Samuel Miller Magisterial District. The original well serving the home went dry an ew well was recently drilled on the property. Water quality tests of the new well, to date, have not met state standards for general coli form, an indicator of possible well water contamination. The applicant has attempted to chlorinate the well and distribution system for the past two weeks and submitted Afrliumerous samples for testing over that time period, with most, but not all, test results indicating that State standards for general coli form X not met. hue not been Because of particular circumstances related topapplicantltaff iAexpediting the review of this application by going directly to a public hearing on the request and bypassing the initial works ssion to determine whether to set a public hearing on the request. The applicant has recentl�y`) ad neWBorn premature twins and the family has not been able to live at home until the water contamination is address`7tiren to results of the water testacui The Health Department has reviewed this water test information and site and has confirmed that there is a low level of well contamination. T NAM M lap [m has indicated that there are possible remedies and methods to address the situation that the original well may be leaching into the new well and causing the contamination and has recommended tha xisting well abandoned(filled). As of the writing of this report,this work has not been completed; therefore, follow-up test results are not available. Based on the currently available information, it is still possible that the contamination is the result of problems with the distribution system beyond the well. If this is the case,the provision of public water may not remedy the contamination being experienced within the house. Testing of water obtained directly from the well has been requested but the results of that testing is not available at this time. The Health Department has also indicated that there are on-site methods of addressing this level of contamination through the use of ultra-violet purifying systems or periodic/regular chlorination of the water supply. County and Health Department staff will provide further information on the results of testing noted above at the public hearing. STRATEGIC PLAN: 2.2 Protect and/or preserve the County's natural resources. DISCUSSION: The property is located outside of the designated Development Area. It is located within the designated Rural Area. The property is zoned RA, Rural Area. The Comprehensive Plan provides the following concerning the provision of water and sewer service to the Development Areas: AGENDA TITLE: Bloomfield Road (Fennell) -Albemarle County Service Authority Jurisdictional Area Amendment Request June 4, 2008 Page 2 "General Principle: Urban Areas, Communities, and Villages are to be served by public water and sewer(p. 114)." "Provide water and sewer service only to areas within the ACSA Jurisdictional Areas (p. 130)." "Follow the boundaries of the designated Development Areas in delineating Jurisdictional Areas (p.130)." "Only allow changes in the Jurisdictional Areas outside of the designated Development Areas in cases where the property is: 1) adjacent to existing lines; and 2) public health and/or safety is in danger(p. 130)." /Water and sewer services by policy are intended to serve the designated Development Areas where growth is encouraged and are to be discouraged in the Rural Area because tlfjr are a potential catalyst to growth. Water supply and system /capacities need to be efficiently and effectively used and reservecito serve the Development Area. Continued connections of properties in the Rural Area result in further extension of lines from the fringe of the existing Jurisdictional Area and into the Rural Areas, potentially straining limited water resources and capacity. This request meets the first criteria for the provision of service to Rural Areas parcels(adjacency to existing service lines). The adjacent property to the east of this parcel is within the ACSA Jurisdictional Area for Water Only to Existing Structures is served with public water. The Kearsage Subdivision is located across Bloomfield Road from thi rgperty(south of this ✓property and is also within the ACSA Jurisdictional Area and has water. However, at this timtaff has insufficient ?_ information to evaluate water this is health of safety issliP resulting from a water source failure (contaminated well) and whether it is a long term contamination issue or a short-term issue resulting the construction/purification process for the new and/or closure of the old well. Staff anticipates that sufficient information will be available by the public hearing to provide further information and guidance on the consistency of this request with the above noted County policy. BUDGET IMPACT: The property owner will bear the costs for sewer connection. RECOMMENDATIONS: While there is evidence of contamination of water serving the existing home on-site, at this time staff does not have sufficient information to confirm,t0t there is actually contamination of the well water(water source), or that the coli form contamination being experienceanot the result of a temporary condition resulting from the construction of the new well and the closure of the old well. Therefore``s"taff cannot recommend approval of this request at this time. Staff anticipates that additior4(information will be available by the public hearing to allow final recommendations to be made regarding the consistency of this request to County policies for the provision of service the Rural Areas [Comprehensive Plan for the provision of sewer service outside of the designated Development Area.] ATTACHMENTS