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Board of Health approves variance for vault septic at 16 Hillside Drive; applicant must maintain operation contract
Summary
After a public hearing, the Chaffee County Board of Health approved a variance to allow a vault (holding) septic tank at 16 Hillside Drive because lot size and neighboring well setbacks make a conventional soil-treatment area infeasible; the approval includes required operation and maintenance provisions and an alarm set at 75% capacity.
Chaffee County's Board of Health voted to grant a variance allowing installation of a wastewater vault tank at 16 Hillside Drive after a public hearing and staff recommendation.
Health staff (Chad) summarized that the lot lacks sufficient space to install a conventional on-site wastewater treatment system (OWTS) with a soils treatment area while meeting setback requirements from neighboring wells. Chad recommended approval of a vault tank fitted with a high-water alarm set at 75% capacity and required maintenance and inspections. "The installation of the tank at this property is the most logical way to ensure water quality for the area," staff said.
Applicants Corey Bauman and Catherine Collins told commissioners they plan to make the site their primary residence, said they had explored shared systems with adjacent owners and had secured estimates for pumping and maintenance. Commissioners asked about frequency and contingency if pumping did not occur; staff and applicants said the tank is designed to be water-tight, will alarm at 75% and is expected to require regular pumping and maintenance (likely more than once every two years depending on use). The county will require an operation and maintenance contract and records of service inspections to remain on file.
Recusal and vote: One commissioner recused from the discussion because the commissioner lives at 4 Hillside Drive. After questions and public comment (including an emailed objection from an adjacent property owner), the board moved to approve the variance. The motion passed by recorded voice vote.
Ending: Staff will draft and record the operation-and-maintenance contract, define inspection/reporting requirements and confirm access arrangements for pumpers. The approval permits a single-property vault system subject to the conditions discussed.
