The Fayette Citizen-News Page
Friday, July 2, 1999
Septic ordinance under consideration

By MONROE ROARK
Staff Writer

If you own land with a septic tank and undertake a construction or renovation project, the location of your septic tank could play a big role in what you are able to do.

That point was reinforced during discussions of the Peachtree City Council meeting, as a proposed ordinance addressing the involvement of the Health Department in the approval of building projects was considered and ultimately tabled June 17, to be heard again July 1.

A specific instance where a citizen was preparing his property for the installation of a pool motivated Councilwoman Carol Fritz to take action. She recounted a resident's troubles at 606 Haddington Lane, in the Stoneybrook subdivision, in a memo to city manager Jim Basinger that was entered into the record Thursday night.

According to Fritz, the resident consulted with the Health Department before he purchased his property and agreed to a location for his pool near his house because of the septic system. He later built a retaining wall and damaged his required alternate drain field. The only other suitable place for an alternate drain field is his front yard, which would require a drip system and the removal of all trees in the front yard, a violation of the subdivision covenants.

Fritz pointed out that if proper procedures had been in place, the Building Department could have consulted with the Health Department before issuing a permit for the retaining wall. As it happened, the wall was noticed by a health official during its construction, and he asked a Building Department official about it.

Fritz, in her memo, asked for city staff to draft an ordinance requiring the Health Department to be involved in any building permit or variance requests involving lots with new or existing septic systems.

Councilman Jim Pace pointed out that if this were a problem in Peachtree City, it would likely be as important for the entire county, and maybe the county should take the lead on this. He added that he preferred the applicant bear the burden for getting the proper approval for a particular project rather than the city or the county.

According to Councilwoman Annie McMenamin, the old ordinance should be enforced and there may not be the need for another rule.

City attorney Rick Lindsey, while stressing that he was not recommending approval or denial of anything, noted that there was a potentially important difference between the old ordinance and the new one. The old ordinance specifically mentioned “proposed” septic systems and made no mention of existing ones. He added that “good lawyering” would immediately spot this discrepancy.

While all four council members (Mayor Bob Lenox was absent) agreed that it was an important issue, not everyone was comfortable with the ordinance as presented at the June meeting. Thus, a move was made to table, and it passed unanimously.


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