Board backs comp plan changes to allow advanced on-site systems, require transitional package plants

The Nassau County Planning and Zoning Board voted April 1 to recommend approval of Comprehensive Plan Amendment CPA 25-003, which updates the county's public facilities element to reflect state legislative changes and to set county policy on small community wastewater systems and advanced on-site treatment and disposal systems (OSTDS).

Elizabeth Beck of the planning department told the board the amendment responds to legislative changes enacted through House Bill 1379 and Senate Bill 1632, effective July 1, 2023. The proposal would (1) allow use of small community and noncommunity treatment systems in specified rural and environmentally sensitive locations but require those systems be designed as transitional/traditional systems to state or local standards, (2) require private wastewater systems to be decommissioned and connected to centralized utilities when available, (3) encourage advanced OSTDS for new development in environmentally sensitive lands where central sanitary sewer is not available, and (4) instruct the county to consider sanitary sewer feasibility within a 10-year planning horizon for larger developments (over 50 residential lots) and to include applicable projects in the 5-year schedule of capital improvements by Sept. 30, 2025.

Board members asked whether existing residents with wells or septic systems would be affected. Colin Graff and staff responded that, under current conditions, the county does not have adopted Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) that would trigger immediate retrofits; staff said the amendment brings the comp plan into compliance with state law and would affect future development or properties that later fall into a BMAP. Colin Graff explained the county's role in implementing state requirements: "Right now, it would not impact anybody because we do not have any basin management action plans."

Members also pressed staff on economic-impact statements and how the amendment might influence the county's capital-improvement program and connection/expansion fees; staff replied that utilities already prepare multi-year CIPs and charge connection or capacity fees to fund expansions, and the comp plan language primarily ensures coordination between county planning and utility capital programming.

Motion and vote: Board member Henson moved to recommend approval of CPA 25-003; board member Flick seconded. The motion passed by voice vote.

Why it matters: the amendment clarifies county policy on when and how alternative wastewater systems may be used, establishes criteria for transitioning package systems to centralized utilities, and requires the county to identify projects in the capital-improvement schedule, which could affect future development costs and utility planning.

Reported action: The board recommended approval of CPA 25-003.