Planning commission recommends banning nontraditional wastewater systems for new residential developments inside urban growth boundaries

The Williamson County planning staff presented a text amendment to Articles 11 and 23 of the zoning ordinance to prohibit the use of nontraditional wastewater treatment and disposal systems for new residential developments on properties zoned Rural Development 5 (RD5) and Rural Preservation 5 (RP5) when those properties are located inside municipal urban growth boundaries (UGBs).

Staff (S1) said the change reflects the county’s and municipalities’ long-standing policy to avoid these systems within UGBs because municipal governments have expressed concern about the difficulty and cost of retrofitting nontraditional systems to municipal sewer in the event of future annexation. Staff emphasized that the systems would remain permitted for individual uses such as a school or church in the applicable districts.

Commissioner (S9) asked for a plain-language explanation of the practical impact; staff replied that the primary difference is that when a property within a UGB is annexed or becomes part of a municipality it is expected to connect to municipal sewer, and nontraditional systems can present an impediment because they are costly to retrofit. Commissioner (S7) asked if there is an appeal mechanism for a property owner at the fringe of a UGB; staff clarified that a use variance is not available from the board of zoning appeals for this matter and that changing the rule would require an amendment to the zoning ordinance.

Staff recommended approval and asked the commission to forward the resolution to the county commission; the motion passed by voice vote.