HomeMy WebLinkAboutpitkin.eh.272920400006 (1996)_MEMOMEMORANDUM
To: Francis Krizmanich, Community Development Dept
From: Mary Engelmann, Environmental Health Officer
Through: Lee Cassin, Assistant Environmental Health Director
Date: March 4, 1996
Re: DeLoach Conceptual Review
Parcel ID # 2729-204-00-006
The Aspen/Pitkin Environmental Health Department has reviewed the details of the
DeLoach application under the authority of the Pitkin County Code,Title II, Land Use
Code and has the following comments.
ADEQUATE PROVISIONS FOR WATER NEEDS: Sections 2-170 and 3-110.4:
"It is the policy of the County to insure the availability of a water supply of adequate quality, quantity, pressure and dependability for fire protection
and support of a proposed land use prior to approval of the use. The County shall require land uses to hook up to existing public systems if service is
available."
The applicant has agreed to serve the project with water provided by the Redstone
Water District. Prior to issuance of a sewage disposal system permit or approval of a
building permit, the Environmental Health Department will need to be supplied with a
"...letter of intent to service the proposal..." as defined in the Pitkin County Code, Title il,
Land Use Code.
It is recommended that low water landscaping Neriscaping) be used and that the timing
of any sprinkler systems be decreased for low water plants. The Colorado State
University Cooperative Extension office can be contacted for more information on
xeriscaping.
A condition of approval for this application is the receipt of a letter from
Redstone Water District stating that they are aware that this home will tie
into their system. Setback requirements must be met between the water
line and the sewage disposal system. Without meeting these requirements
a sewage disposal system permit and building permit can not be issued.
SEWAGE TREATMENT AND COLLECTION- Sections 2-180 and 3-110.5:
It is the policy of the County to ensure that adequate sewage treatment facilities are available to serve existing and new developments. Public and
private sewage disposal systems and connections to such systems shall comply with the sewage disposal guidelines of Pitkin County's Individual Sewage
Disposal System Regulation."
AI•
Lots in the areas outside of the town of Redstone are served by individual sewage
disposal systems. All such systems installed within Pitkin County require septic permits
issued by the Environmental Health Department, and must comply with the County's
sewage disposal regulations. To receive a septic permit, the applicant will need to
submit a septic permit application and appropriate fee with a completed Soil Data Form
including percolation. test results and profile hole information. It must be possible to
design an adequate sewage disposal system before a building permit can be issued.
The Aspen/Pitkin Environmental Health Department will design the system for the
applicant as part of the permit fee, if an engineered system is not required. We
will do a site visit, advise the applicant about the best location for the system and
provide a system design. We will determine if an engineered,system is needed based on
soil test results. An engineered system is required if any one of the following conditions
exists: a percolation rate faster than 5 mpi or slower than 60 mpi; maximum seasonal
level of the groundwater table or bedrock less than four feet below the bottom of the
proposed, absorption system; or a slope in excess of 30%. Prior to initiating any tests at
the site, the applicant should contact this office.
We believe it will be possible to install either a conventional or an engineered sewage
disposal system on this lot based on the letter submitted by Wilson L. "Liv" Bowden, an
Engineering Geologist, and after conducting our own site visit. It must be noted that on
the date of the site visit (Feb. 27, 1996) the ground was covered with snow. We were
unable to view some of the topographical features, but were able to view the general
site location. There are two large drainages to the northeast and southwest sides of the
proposed building envelope, but these should not be a problem. There was also a stand
of aspen trees which may be indicative of wet areas. Mr. Bowden made mention of rock
outcrops above and below the site and that soils above the bedrock are comparatively
thin. He felt that there was a possibility that bedrock could be encountered at depths
less than 8 feet. This would require an engineer -designed system. There is also the
possibility that bedrock may not be a problem judging from the depths of the soil that
we viewed at the road cuts during our site visit. A soil profile will determine what is
present at the site of the sewage disposal system. _
The applicant will need to adhere to minimum horizontal setback requirements for
placement of septic system components which should be no problem on this lot.
The area for the leach field should be located in an area of no traffic, planted with dry
land grass; and should not be watered. It is desirable to locate the system downhill from
the house so that the system can operate by gravity. The applicant should refer to the
Pitkin County Sewage Regulations for detailed information, or call our office to discuss
this site.
Since the site consists of some steeper slopes, there may be some difficulty in placing
1 -.he sewage disposal system. According to the information provided in this conceptual,
rlaview, the slopes within the building envelope range from 0 to 15 percent. We did not
view any slopes that seemed even close to 0 percent, however. It may be. necessary for
the sewage disposal system to be installed in separate trenches terraced down the slope
so s hat the system functions properly. Unless designed by a registered professional
engineer and approved by this Department, no soil absorption system shall be
permitted in areas where the ground slope is in excess of thirty percent (30%).
A condition of approval for this application is the receipt and. approval of
the sewage disposal permit by the Environmental Health Department before
a building permit can be issued.
WATER QUALITY IMPACTS• Sections 2-140 and 3-70.5 and 3-70.10:
"It is the policy of the County to preserve and protect its present water resources, recognizing the County's semi -arid character and that significant
transmountain and transbasin diversions and the vested rights of senior appropriators in the basin have materially curtailed the availability of an
already scarce water resource. To this end it is the policy of the County that no land use be initiated which would adversely affect the quantity, quality,
or accessibility of the County's water resources; or which would occur at the expense of established water -dependent agricultural activities; or which
would result in increased salinization of water resources, loss of minimum stream flows, further destruction of wildlife habitat, or major expenditures
to reacquire or redistribute major water resources. It is also the policy of the County to maintain a natural vegetative buffer along its surface waters
such that the surface and groundwaters of the area are not encroached upon by land uses or other human activities which could cause deterioration of
water quality or impair the natural treatment processes provided by meadows and wetlands."
The Environmental Health Department is charged with preserving and protecting the
quality of Pitkin County's water resources. Since a large percentage of the population is
dependent upon water from wells, elimination of groundwater pollution, and
protection of aquifers and their drainage areas are of utmost importance. Roofs and
asphalt driveways can be nonpoint sources of water discharge which can contaminate
water supplies. This Department recommends that nonpoint sources of discharge must
be retained on the property of origin.which can be accomplished through landscaping,
drainage patterns, detention ponds, and dry wells for water runoff from buildings.
A condition of approval for this application is: None.
AIR QUALITY• Sections 2-130 and 3-602:
"Only that development is permitted which will not contribute significantly to degradation of air quality.
This project is not expected to contribute significantly to degradation of air quality in
Pitkin County.
A condition of approval should be: None_
Activities such as road building and landscaping require a Fugitive Dust Plan. This plan
would need to include, but is not limited to, fencing, watering of haul roads and
disturbed areas, daily cleaning of adjacent paved roads to remove mud that has been
carried out, speed limits, or other measures necessary to prevent windblown dust from
crossing the property line or causing a nuisance. There is an existing dirt road up to the
site. However; if any improvements are made to this road or if it is extended, then the
Environmental Health Department would require that steps be taken to minimize dust.
A condition should be approval by the Aspen/Pitkin Environmental Health
Department of the fugitive dust control plan, containing enough measures
to ensure that dust does not become a nuisance or blow onto adjacent
property.
The less densely populated parts of the county like the Redstone area may have two
devices per building: a maximum of one wood burning fireplace and a second device
which can be either a gas log fireplace or a certified woodstove. In addition, unlimited
numbers of decorative.gas appliances are allowed. Coal may not be burned in any
device. No wood burning device may be installed in barns or agricultural buildings.
A condition of approval for this application -is the receipt and approval of
the fireplace/woodstove permit by the. Environmental Health Department
before the building -permit can be issued.
CONFORMANCE WITH OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH LAWS: Section 2-70:
"It is the policy of the County to ensure that no use or development of land is permitted which is in violation of the laws of the County, the State of
Colorado, or the United States of America."
This Department is not aware of any issues of concern regarding other environmental
health laws.
.. ENV VVRLAND USE:
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