Rockville planning commission recommends land-use ordinance to limit septic density and set environmental review criteria

The Rockville Planning Commission on June 10 voted to recommend that the Town Council adopt an ordinance adding Chapter 13, "Environmental Sustainability," to the Rockville Land Use Code. The proposed ordinance would set maximum septic-tank density limits, require environmental review criteria when zoning decisions are made, and establish a process for approving alternative on-site wastewater treatment systems that reduce nitrate loading.

Commissioners opened a public hearing and heard clarifying comments from residents. Todd Noller asked whether the ordinance uses an overall-area density calculation or requires individual lots to be a minimum size; staff and commissioners clarified the ordinance sets overall density limits for designated study areas rather than per-lot minimum acreage. Jacob Anderson asked whether alternative systems would still be allowed once an area's septic density limit is reached; staff confirmed alternative systems that have received necessary approvals would be considered under an alternate-compliance process.

The draft ordinance draws on the 2024 septic-tank density analysis for Rockville and calls for the planning commission and town council to consider groundwater quality, septic capacity and findings from the most recent septic density study when zoning or rezoning land. The draft includes a specific provision that properties within 300 feet of an existing sewer line must connect to that sewer; commissioners discussed exceptions and alignment with state law. Participants noted Utah Code 10-8-38 (referenced in the meeting) and a local exception for cases where the sewer system is not low enough for gravity feed; commissioners agreed to revise language to reference state guidance and explicitly preserve the gravity-feed exception.

The ordinance also provides an alternate-compliance path: applicants may propose alternative on-site wastewater treatment systems that reduce nitrate loading subject to review and approval by the planning commission, the Southwest Utah Public Health Department, and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. The commission asked staff to clarify drafting so 4(c) (the connection-to-sewer requirement) and 5(a) (alternate compliance measures) do not conflict and so that the ordinance explicitly allows exceptions where alternative systems demonstrably reduce nitrate loadings.

Commissioners noted a need to standardize wording across the draft (for example, using the phrase "maximum allowable septic tank density" consistently) and to reference the specific, most-recent approved septic density study by date so the ordinance can be precisely cited in the future. Staff committed to produce revised language overnight for the town council's consideration the following day.

After discussion and minor agreed edits, the commission voted by roll call to recommend adoption of the draft ordinance to the Town Council. The motion directed staff to add definitions from the new chapter to the front definitions page of the Land Use Code and to incorporate clarified language about the 300-foot requirement, alternative systems and state-code references. The recommendation will be transmitted to the Town Council for final action.