01141985 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

53 Regular Meeting January 14, 1985 Page 10 will be implemented by the Planning Commission and the Director of Environment and Engineering is charged with primary responsibility for making that determination, and the City needs to move as quickly as possible to prevent further problems as we have recently exper- ienced. When problems are brought to the attention of the Texas Water Development Board and if someone applies for a permit which they regulate, are two means by which the Board finds out there are problems. Mr. Gonzalez said there are two different interpretations as to what their position is in regard to areas over the Aquifer that may be out- side the area currently delineated on the map, one is they will enforce the regulations if it is shown to be hydrologically connected and the other interpretation is they will not. Mr. Hankins then requested the Council consider an amendment in Section 4 of this Ordinance, amending Article VI of Section F to add. . . information from the Edwards Under- ground Water District and the Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center, "percolation tests, core samples and other such tests and data as may be required by the Director of Environment and Engineering", which amend- ment Mr. Hankins fully read into the record. Then Mr. Hankins offered a second amendment to this Ordinance which amends Section 6 of this Ordin- ance, Article VI, Section H, which follows 3., as follows, "4. Notwith- standing §3 above, when private sewage facilities are to be utilized on a lot, the lot shall be designed to accommodate the proper and effect- ive function of the private sewage facility and a private water well, if a private water well is to be utilized. Lots using private sewage facili- ties shall be designed or configured based on a minimum of one (1) per- colation test for every two (2) acres and one (1) core sample for every five (5) acres soil samples, and other tests as required by the Director of Environment and Engineering or the Planning Commission. Additional percolation tests and core samples may be ordered if results of pre- vious tests in the immediate area, geological evidence of unusual faulting, fractures or other recharge structures, and the size of the subdivision warrant such additional tests as determined by the Director of Environment and Engineering", which amendment Mr. Hankins fully read into the record. In Section 156.20.005A2 of the Texas Water Development Board Regulations, Licensing Requirements for New Private Sewage Facili- ties, Mr. Hankins said it is not their intention for the one-acre lot requirement to be automatic, as the Rules go on to say "the lot or tract in question must be large enough considering the soil and drainage condi- tions and probable volume of sewage to be disposed of to permit the use of a private sewage facility without causing water pollution, nuisance conditions or danger to public health". No one else wished to speak in favor or in opposition to the Ordinance or amendments, so Mayor Craddock closed the public hearing. Mayor Craddock moved for adoption of the Ordinance on emergency and Mr. Moore seconded the motion. Mr. Farr moved to amend the Ordinance to add the language as fully read into the record by Mr. Hankins to Section 4 of this Ordinance, which amends Article VI, Section F. Ms. Kissler seconded the motion. Mr. Brown asked Mr. Robbins what kind of expenses would be involved in this requirement of a more extensive environmental impact statement. Mr. Robbins stated the Staff established some standards of the kinds of things that need to be in the statement, which would advise someone who wants to develop an environmentally sensitive piece of land what would be expected early in the process, the platting process, so there would not be suprises what would be expected. He said our statement asks information other jurisdictions require. Mr. Farr thought it would be desirous to have a statement form, and Mr. Robbins said this is what the Staff has tried to do, but it would be difficult to prepare a specific statement form because of the diverse land of our area, steep slopes, Recharge Zone, endangered species, etc. Mr. Gonzalez said the Staff would look into this matter. The Council then voted unanimously for approval of Mr. Farr's amendment. Mr. Farr then suggested recommendations be made by the Staff to the Council in the future regarding signs being placed advising the public they were "entering the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone". Ms. Kissler moved to amend Section 6, Article VI, Section H to add