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Smithfield council forwards wastewater facility plan amendment to RIDEM to serve Sand Trace development
Summary
The Smithfield Town Council voted to send a wastewater facility plan amendment to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to reallocate reserved sewer capacity for the Sand Trace development, a step officials say will enable about 100 new home connections without immediate taxpayer cost.
The Smithfield Town Council voted to forward a Wastewater Treatment Facility Plan Amendment application to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) to reallocate reserved sewer capacity in anticipation of the Sand Trace residential development. The motion was made by a council member and seconded; the council approved the action by verbal vote.
Why it matters: Town staff and consultants told the council the amendment would extend coverage to the Mint School Road area and allow the Sand Trace project to connect to sewer, which officials said could also enable additional future connections for neighborhoods that remain on septic systems.
Town engineer Josh Jelly summarized the request, saying, "As you just read, I'm here tonight to request that we move forward with sending the facility plan amendment to our RIDEM," and explained the amendment would include the Mint School Road area. Consultants and staff placed the request in historical context, noting the original plant construction and past allocations.
Consultants and capacity figures: Chris Duhamel of Depreed Engineering told the council the plant has substantial capacity relative to the Sand Trace proposal, saying the plant's theoretical capacity is "300000 gallons a day" and that the Sand Trace proposal for about 100 homes would require "80,000 gallons." That gap, the consultant said, leaves room for further neighborhood connections.
Costs and who pays: Council members repeatedly asked whether the project would shift costs to taxpayers. A town representative said the developer is paying for the project and that he did not see how this would negatively affect taxpayers now or in the future. A separate staff comment confirmed a connection fee of $425 per unit.
Process and timing: Councilors questioned why the amendment was being filed now and why an engineer's letter is dated Oct. 15. Staff said the town is the applicant for the RIDEM amendment and that easements for future connections would be recorded as part of subdivision approvals when necessary. The public hearing was opened, comments were taken, and the hearing was closed before the motion to send the amendment to RIDEM was approved.
What happens next: With council authorization, staff will file the facility plan amendment with RIDEM. Any subsequent construction, easement recordings or additional pumping-station work would follow RIDEM approvals and standard permitting processes.
