Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Infrastructure Sewer topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves amendment allowing joint building sewer connections in some commercial projects
Summary
Council adopted an amendment to municipal sewer rules to allow the city and Board of Public Works to approve joint building sewer connections for multiple buildings on the same parcel under common ownership, citing examples where separate taps were infeasible; staff said safeguards will require separation if properties later split.
The City Council on Sept. 4 approved a change to the city's joint building sewer rules to give staff and the Holland Board of Public Works discretion to allow multiple buildings on the same parcel to share a single sewer lateral under specified conditions.
Trisha Dreyer, assistant director in community and neighborhood services, described two practical examples: Shoreline Flats (where some buildings could be tied to a single lateral) and an emergency-repair situation behind the Wooden Shoe restaurant where a deep force main made independent taps impractical. Dreyer said the department and the Board of Public Works review site conditions, pipe sizes and building uses to decide when a joint sewer is appropriate, and that joint connections would be allowed only when buildings are on the same parcel and under common ownership.
Dreyer said the ordinance amendment will avoid costly private sewer installations in tight urban parcels, while preserving protections: if a property is later split or sold, staff will require separation of building sewers to prevent nuisance issues. Councilors asked about enforcement during parcel splits; Dreyer summarized the lot-division and review process the city uses to require separation when needed.
Council moved to approve the joint building sewer proposal; the motion carried on a recorded roll call.
Staff said the change was prompted by evolving commercial construction patterns and by an example where the Board of Public Works had previously granted a variance; the amendment is intended to streamline approvals while maintaining safeguards against future nuisance claims.
