Slowing down on sewer

Lakeside declares moratorium on some new subdivisions

Given the tremendous number of new residential lots proposed in the Lakeside/Somers area over the last several months, the Lakeside sewer district board says it's time to take a break.

The board recently declared a moratorium on some new service commitments within and adjacent to the district, saying it needs to figure out which subdivisions actually are moving forward before it entertains any additional requests.

"We've had conversations with a number of large subdivision proposals, but most are still hypothetical," said Jim Heim, general manager of the district. "We don't know which ones are serious, which ones are going to get approved, and whether the number of lots will be cut back. The moratorium is mainly to make sure that we don't over-commit our capacity. It's our way of letting everyone catch their breath."

Lakeside's wastewater treatment facility currently serves most of the area around Lakeside and Somers; it also provides treatment for the Somers sewer district, which serves the area in and around the townsite.

Capacity is not an issue for the district, Heim said. The treatment plant currently serves about 1,500 "EDUs," or equivalent residential dwelling units, including the Somers connections. That's only about 40 percent of the facility's total capacity. The district also owns land around the plant so it can expand when necessary.

However, there's the potential for more than 2,000 new subdivision lots in the Lakeside/Somers area, he said - and that's just the projects that have had "serious discussions" with the district. It doesn't include the more tentative proposals that could still come forward.

The moratorium doesn't apply to many of these developments.

For example, Lakeside has already agreed to provide service to Cooper Farms, a 700-lot residential development just north of Somers, as well as the 310-lot North Shore Ranch subdivision proposed just east of Somers.

"Any of the projects we've made commitments to, we're going to live up to those agreements," Heim said. "What we're talking about [for the moratorium] is the new, large subdivisions that are outside the district boundaries, as well as any new, overly high-density projects inside the district. There are just too many unknowns right now to say yes to everyone who comes through the door."

The Lakeside board didn't set a deadline or time frame for the moratorium, but it likely will be in place for at least several months.

"A lot of the projects we've talked with have planning board hearings coming up later this summer," Heim said. "We'd like them to get through the process. Once we know what's been approved, then we can predict with greater accuracy when we'll have to expand."

Reporter Bill Spence may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at bspence@dailyinterlake.com