HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOCC Staff Report 12.17.2001BOCC 12/17/01
PROJECT INFORMATION AND STAFF COMMENTS
REQUEST:
APPLICANT:
ENGINEER:
L Description of the Proposal
Review of the Proposed Sunlight Wastewater Treatment
Facility and Recommendation to the Colorado Department of
Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division, per
regulations 22, Section 22.4 (2).
Sunlight Mountain Resort
Schmueser, Gordon, Meyer (SGM)
As a result of increased capacity, the Sunlight Mountain Resort is proposing to replace their
existing wastewater treatment facility with a system that will be able to accommodate a higher
capacity. The existing plant servicing the area has several deficiencies that could potentially
cause the plant to fall out of compliance with its discharge permit requirements. The applicant is
currently working with CDPHE to extend operation permits for the existing facility with the
understanding that plans for the design, and construction of a new facility are being undertaken.
The proposed site location for the facility is north of Four Mile Creek (see attached page, Site
'C') on a parcel of land owned by Sunlight Mountain Resort, and south of Four Mile Road.
Sunlight Mountain Resort has entered into a Joint Use Agreement for their wastewater treatment
facility that includes the Sunlight Mountain Resort, Brettelberg, Sunlight Inn, and the Brigham
Residence. This Joint Use Agreement will be carried over to the new facility.
The proposed facility will be of an Aero -Mod design and is expected to handle 50,000 gallons
per day (gpd). The applicant has stated that the soils testing and specific design
recommendations will be performed prior to the final facility design plan. The new facility will
be able to handle an additional 15,000 gpd per day as the capacity of the existing facility is
35,000 gpd. Ownership, operation, and maintenance for this facility will be under the
jurisdiction of Sunlight Mountain Resort with reporting of influent and effluent contracted out to
Zancanella and Associates. Estimated cost for this facility is $784,255. The applicant has also
estimated a cost for a facility able to handle 75,000 gpd, which is $999,702.90.
II. Issues and Concerns
A. Legal Process: To install a new sewage treatment facility, an applicant is required to
submit an Application for Site Approval for Waste Water Treatment Facilities to the
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The site application
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is required to be reviewed by the County Board of Health, Board of County /A21/6);45 t eY 7)4
Commissioners and Planning Authority. These entities are given three recommendation
options; approval, disapproval and no comment. The recommendation is to address the
following question:
"Are the proposed facilities consistent with the comprehensive plan and any other plans
for the area, including the 201 Facility Plan or 208 Water Quality Management Plan, as
they affect water quality?"
The recommendations made by local governments are considered by the CDPHE in their
approval or denial of the site application. If the CDPHE recommends denial of the
proposed site application, it can be appealed to the Colorado Water Quality Control
Commission.
B. Garfield County Comprehensive Plan: The WWTF is located in an area identified as
"Recreation" in the Garfield County Comprehensive Plan of 2000 - Study Area I,
Proposed Land Use Districts Map. It should be noted that this area is outside the
boundary of study that tested for floodplain, slope, soil hazards, septic constraints,
surficial geology, and other hazards. These issues should be dealt with by the applicant
through extensive testing. The following are some relevant Comprehensive Plan goals,
objectives and policies:
Water and Sewer Services
Goal: To ensure the provision of legal, adequate, dependable, cost effective and
environmentally sound sewer and water service for new developments.
Objective 7.5: Garfield County will strongly discourage the unnecessary
proliferation of private water and sewer systems.
Policy 7.1: All development proposals in rural areas without existing central
water and/or sewer systems will be required to show legal, adequate, dependable
and environmentally sound water and sewage disposal facilities can be provided
before project approval.
Policy 7.4: Where I.S.D.S. is not feasible, Garfield will require a sewage disposal
system approved by the State of Colorado.
Comment: This application is intended to enable Sunlight Mountain Resort to
improve its ability to meet existing needs. Creating the new facility will ensure
the provision of legal, adequate, dependable, cost effective and environmentally
sound sewer service for Sunlight Mountain Resort and other parties involved in
the Joint Use Agreement. Staff finds the proposal consistent with Garfield
County's goals, objectives, and policies.
Natural Environment
Goal: Garfield County will encourage a land use pattern which recognizes the
environmental sensitivity of the land, does not overburden the physical capacity of
the land, and is in the best interest of the health, safety and welfare of Garfield
County .
Objective 8.5: Development proposals will be required to address soil constraints
unique to the proposed site.
Policy 8.1: Garfield County shall discourage and reserve the right to deny
development in areas identified as having severe environmental constraints such
as active landslides, debris flows, unstable flows, bedrock slices, major mudflows,
radioactive tailings, slopes over 25 percent, riparian areas and wetlands and
projects proposed within the 100 year floodplain.
Policy 8.5: The County will discourage development in areas where severe soil
constraints cannot be adequately mitigated.
Policy 8.7: Garfield County will require development on lands having moderate
or minor environmental constraints to mitigate physical problems such as minor
rockfalls, 17 to 24 percent slopes, minor mudflows, potential subsidence, high
water tables, slow percolation, radioactive soils, and/or corrosive and expansive
soils.
Comment: The applicants will need to conduct more site specific soils and
topographic investigation to address these elements of the Comprehensive Plan.
Any approval will need to be based on the completion of appropriate soils analysis
demonstrating the site is suitable for the waste water treatment plant.
C. Other Staff Comments
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: CDPHE does not
review site applications until all of the local entities have made their
recommendations. This application is consistent with the State's consolidation
policy.
III. CONCLUSION
Staff recommends approval of the proposed site application with the following
comments:
1. The applicants should conduct additional site specific soils tests to determine the
environmental sensitivity and appropriate mitigation measures needed for the site.
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