After gaining approval from the New Albany Plan Commission a little more than three years ago, Stonecrest development’s wait for sewer capacity is still ongoing.
At a Sewer Board meeting Thursday, a city-hired engineer told the body that the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, is not allowing Stonecrest to hook on to basin 18 due to overflows that occurred late in 2007 and in the spring of 2008.
Design work for a $1.4 million improvement to basin 18 is nearly complete, with Stonecrest developers agreeing in principle to pay between $300,000 to $400,000 in tap-in fees upfront.
That money would be used to cover part of the construction costs to the basin, but Stonecrest is unlikely to pay those fees if the EPA won’t allow them to tap in at the desired location.
“The city is being diligent in trying to reduce the risk of those overflows,” said Wes Christmas, a city-hired engineer from the firm Clark Dietz.
The development is to be located between 4719 and 4727 Grant Line Road. Its blueprint calls for more than 200 apartments and two buildings for retail and office use on approximately 15 acres of land.
Other developments in the past have been slowed by the EPA, which cut the amount of sewer credits the city could offer due to wastewater issues.
The rain and snowfall during the months in question were described as excessive, according to Christmas. He said December of 2007 and March of 2008 were some of the wettest months on record for New Albany, making the EPA’s decision to base their findings on those months a little puzzling.
“It was an extreme circumstance,” Christmas said.
A rain event that brought more than two inches of precipitation to New Albany in December presented “no problems” to the basin in question, according to board chairman Ron Carroll.
But the battle for sewer credits at basin 18 isn’t over, as Christmas is preparing a response letter — which is due Jan. 18 — to the EPA. The board is holding a work session to go over what will be included in the letter at 11 a.m. Tuesday, at the wastewater treatment plant .
Christmas believes the EPA could still permit the development to tap in to basin 18 after a few adjustments.
“There are some things we’re going to have to do in the system before the EPA is going to let Stonecrest hook on,” he said.
Basin 18 also is designated to handle wastewater from the city’s next industrial park, Grant Line West, which is currently being developed. Carroll said the overflow issues need to be addressed soon so industries considering the park won’t have difficulty obtaining sewer credits.
Also at the meeting
Ed Wilkinson and Gary Brinkworth were introduced as new board members.
Brinkworth — who also serves on the Stormwater Board — took over for Elizabeth Coyle, who stepped down from the board in December.
Brinkworth also was selected as vice chairman of this year’s sewer board. Wilkinson is taking over for Bill Utz, whose term expired last month.
Floyd County
Overflows keeping Stonecrest from sewer tap-in, for the time being, in New Albany
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