Water, Sewer Line Plans to Be Updated

Calvert Revisions Target High-Density Areas

Calvert County officials are updating plans to bring water and sewer lines into town centers and areas designated for high-density development.

The revisions to the Comprehensive Water and Sewerage Plan, which is updated every 10 years, are intended to keep it aligned with the county's Comprehensive Plan for land use and development, as well as with state plans and upcoming resource studies.

One focus of the update is the county's source of groundwater, the Aquia and Piney Point/Nanjemoy aquifers, said Greg Bowen, director of planning and zoning. Calvert was projected to be near a water shortage by 2030, according to a 1990s study, Bowen said, but changes in zoning densities and planned development have given the county "more of a cushion there so we won't reach [water] management levels by 2030."

Bowen said projecting beyond 2030 would be pure speculation, but that county residents and planners should still "be mindful of our water usage." He said county officials must be sure there are adequate resources to serve coming developments and that those projects fit well into all of the county's plans.

For example, a proposal to extend sewer service from a portion of the Dares Beach community in Prince Frederick to serve 53 new homes in Chesapeake Heights on the Bay is not consistent with county plans.

Tim Deale of Bayside Forest LLC, the property owner, told county and planning commissioners at a public hearing Tuesday that he would gladly pay to build the lines to his property, where he would like to develop affordable housing. He said he would use nearly 10 acres of his property to build a shared drainage field to address runoff issues.

However, current residents of the community raised objections.

"There are a couple of concerns," said Lee Sanders, president of the Chesapeake Heights on the Bay Home Owners Association. "One is part of his proposal is to put a community drain field within the wetland area right up near the beach, which is . . . inconsiderate."

There also would be added congestion and disruption to the community, Sanders said.

A county staff report explains that without water and sewer service, only four lots on Deale's property could be developed, primarily due to low water flow. The existing sewer line that runs on part of Dares Beach Road would not be able to handle the additional load. Also, it was built with a state grant that stipulated the line should serve only failing septic systems in Dares Beach.

While building affordable housing is laudable, Bowen said, locating it so far from a town center goes against the Comprehensive Plan. He added that planners are concerned that adding developments onto a sewer line will bring more density.

"Where do you stop if you start connecting properties that were not existing problems? Where do you stop?" Bowen said.

A proposal in another part of the county has received a different reception from planners who cite it as an example of how the county's plans guide development.

For the proposed Shoppes at Apple Greene in Dunkirk, Howlin Investment Properties has asked the county to update the water and sewer plan to allow this project, which would have its own facility to treat and drain sewage through plant materials.

"He is proposing a land application system, which according to our water and sewer plan is the preferred approach, instead of having a pipe that goes into a stream that goes into our waterways," Bowen said.

Evan Slaughenhoupt, president of the Dunkirk Area Concerned Citizens Association, said it was "a pleasure" to support the Howlin application. He said the group backs the new shopping center, which would be built between Ward Road and Apple Way, because it is a private developer using private funds to mitigate water and sewer issues.

The water and sewer plan will remain open for public comment for about two weeks. The plan is available on the county Web site. The county commissioners will hold a final vote on it in the coming months.