Mike Mitchell’s Proposed Planned District Subdivision at the old lumber yard in Old Forge was discussed by the Town of Webb Board at a Monday meeting, as the town considered changes to the proposed water and sewer arrangement.
The original plan had been for the property association to own and maintain its own water and sewer piping infrastructures on development property, according to Webb Supervisor Ted Riehle.
However, the New York State Department of Health, as a result of its oversight and approval process, has informed the Town of Webb that it requires the local sewer and water districts to assume control of that main line infrastructure, according to Riehle.
“[Mitchell’s] initial idea of having the association be in charge of it didn’t fly with the state agencies,” he said.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) communicated concerns as well, according to Riehle.
“They want to make sure that a licensed operator is in charge of the system, since it is connected to our system within the district,” he said.
The agencies said they need assurance that maintenance and operation is managed appropriately, and that proper contact with agencies would be observed in the event of a main shut-down or other work, Riehle said.
Effectively the Old Forge Sewer District and the Old Forge/ Thendara Water District would be expanding its own main-line infrastructure.
The cost of doing so, however, will be borne by the developer.
“Mike [Mitchell] will have to provide an easement for service and maintenance, and they will be installed at [his] expense,” Riehle said.
Riehle added that he has conferred with Mark Hudon, Head of Webb’s Department of Public Works, about the arrangement.
“Mark was okay with what was proposed,” Riehle said. “He saw no problems.”
The developer is going to have the mains engineered and installed by a contractor, and they’ve got to be approved, according to Riehle.
“The town is responsible for just the mains,” he said, adding that lines from the mains to houses are the homeowner’s responsibility.
Riehle also addressed the development’s impact on the district’s overall sewer capacity.
He said that key to this is the nearby East Side Pump Station, which the development will be accessing by gravity flow.
“The projected sewer flows are almost negligible given the design of the new pump station,” Riehle said. “It would be minimum flow.”
“The design of the new pump station looked at the capacity of the treatment plant, the downstream sewers that were intercepting flows from the forced main, so I don’t see that as an issue.”
Still, Riehle said he intends to verify that.
“We’re going to look at the engineering report, and [confirm] the flows.”
Riehle concluded that it was right for the town to involve itself in this manner.
“It makes sense,” he said. “Certainly we want to protect the integrity of our systems [by assuming control of connected mains].”
The board indicated informal agreement for Supervisor Riehle to present the legal aspects, including the easement agreement, to Town Attorney Richard Frye for review.
The board said it hopes to vote on the proposal at its monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 12.