Developer wanted to avoid sewer hookups

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@thecitizennews.com

Trying to avoid a technicality that would require his new subdivision to be hooked up to sewer service, developer Jimmy Halligan submitted a revised concept plan for the Kedron Estates subdivision.

The tweaked design calls for four lots in the subdivision to remain vacant — which would put the subdivision further than 500 feet away from a sewer manhole. If it was inside 500 feet, a state regulation requires Kedron Hills to be hooked up to sewer lines instead of septic tanks.

The Peachtree City Planning Commission denied the new plan at its meeting Monday night. Commission member Willis Granger made the motion, noting that the city wants its homes hooked up to sewer service.

The plan was denied 3-2 with Wes Saunders and Robert Ames against denying the revised plan.

Halligan said the subdivision, originally planned to have 28 lots over one acre each, would require one or two pump stations if it is connected to the sewer system. That would add an additional cost of at least $75,000 for each station, he said.

Robert Kurbes, an environmentalist with the Fayette County Health Department, said using septic tanks with the type of soil found in the subdivision might cause some problems. Some of the lots are in low-lying areas which typically don't handle septic tank usage well, Kurbes added.

Kedron Estates has been the subject of controversy since Halligan claims the Health Department had originally agreed to allow him to use septic tanks on the homes. But Kurbes said the health department never approved that plan at all.

To get around the sewer requirement, Halligan re-drew the subdivision plans so none of the residences would be within 500 feet of the sewer line. Halligan assured the commission that the four vacant lots would be developed later, but the property might need to be rezoned, he added.

“I may come back with four lots that are on sewer service,” Halligan said.