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Commission approves Dollar General preliminary plat and variances despite lack of sewer; applicant pledges future connection
Summary
The San Juan City Commission approved a preliminary plat and three variances for a proposed Dollar General on a 1.713-acre Veterans Boulevard tract, allowing septic tanks, a reduced utility easement and a modified water-loop/fire-hydrant plan; the applicant said the $1.2 million project will connect to sewer when available.
The San Juan City Commission voted to approve a preliminary plat and associated variances for a proposed Dollar General on a 1.713-acre tract along Veterans Boulevard.
Planning staff presented the subdivision and three requested variances: (1) a variance from the city’s water-line looping requirement in exchange for placement of a fire hydrant agreed with the fire department; (2) permission to install septic tanks because sanitary sewer is not currently available, accompanied by a plat note requiring the property to connect to city sewer and abandon septic systems when sewer service becomes available; and (3) a reduction of the standard 15-foot utility easement to 5 feet due to property-size and setback constraints.
Carlos Garza, president of AC Engineering and engineer of record for the applicant, said the project complies with state regulations and argued the development would bring revenue to San Juan. “By the end of the day when we do the development, it'll be a 1.2 million dollar development in the city of San Juan plus the tax revenue that you get from that Dollar General,” Garza said.
The applicant reiterated the commitment to remove septic systems if and when the city extends sewer lines. “If sanitary sewer . . . becomes available to it, we will abandon the septic system,” the applicant said, noting that plat language requiring future connection will be recorded with the subdivision.
Commissioners moved, seconded and approved the plat and variances by voice vote; the record shows an affirmative voice vote and the chair declared, “Motion carried.” The motion and vote did not list individual roll-call tallies in the transcript.
The city staff packet included a fire marshal approval letter for the hydrant placement and a note that the interim utility director approved septic use conditioned on future sewer connection. The city’s actions approve the preliminary plat and grant the requested variances subject to the conditions explained in staff recommendations.
Next steps: the subdivision plat will be recorded with the plat note requiring future sewer connection; the applicant will proceed with site preparations and permitting under the conditions set by staff and the fire marshal.
