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Jericho wastewater study aims to support Riverside housing; PER to define capacity for 100–300 homes
Summary
Susan Bresee presented a 60%‑complete wastewater study by Du Bois and King to assess designs and funding for a system that could serve roughly 100–300 homes and support a Phase 1 of 28 units in Riverside; a water‑quality study runs June–October and funding models include CHIP, grants and loans.
Susan Bresee, presenting for Jericho’s Wastewater Task Force, told the Conservation Commission on June 17 that a preliminary engineering process is underway to determine a preferred wastewater design and capacity to serve new housing in the Riverside area. The study is about 60 percent complete and Du Bois and King are preparing the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) that will recommend design and capacity options.
Bresee said the PER will evaluate systems intended to serve roughly 100–300 homes, and that project staff are working on housing scenarios to gauge demand. The Task Force described Phase 1 as a conceptual 28‑unit development consisting of 10 single‑family homes and 18 apartment units, with the town initially focused on public land at the middle school for disposal capacity. Other potential disposal sites identified in the study are privately owned and would require purchase or easement negotiations if pursued.
Funding strategies presented include a mix of state programs such as CHIP, targeted grants and loans, and potential user‑fee approaches. Bresee warned that a water‑quality study planned to run from June through October will not produce results in time to influence the PER, and test pits already completed will inform next steps.
Bresee also told commissioners that school taxes account for about 70 percent of Jericho’s tax bill, a dynamic she said complicates local funding because low student enrollment keeps school costs largely fixed while higher resident incomes reduce state aid eligibility. She cited Waitsfield as an example of a town that used a mix of loans, grants and user fees to limit broad property‑tax increases. Bresee said neighboring Underhill initially declined to partner but may change its position as its planning progresses.
The commission asked staff to continue stakeholder outreach, including property owners, the local water district and adjacent districts, as the PER is finalized. The commission did not take a final vote on the study at the meeting.
