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Neighbors press county on who pays for water/sewer tie-ins as developers propose eight new lots on Fountain Green Road
Summary
Frederick Ward Associates proposed an eight-lot subdivision on North Fountain Green Road that would require public water and sewer extensions. DPW said the developer must extend mains from Prospect Green and noted the Hickory Area Collector Sewer Policy; neighbors asked whether connection would be mandatory, who would pay lateral costs and whether tanks would need abandonment.
A proposed eight-lot subdivision on North Fountain Green Road prompted technical requirements and detailed questions from nearby property owners about water and sewer availability and cost.
Frederick Ward Associates presented a plan on Jan. 7 to revise three existing lots and one parcel to make eight single-family lots on roughly 4.01 acres. The property is split zoned B1 and AG and is located on MD 543 across from Prospect Mill Road.
Utilities and county requirements DPW Water & Sewer told the committee a new plan series is required and that the project will need an extension of public water and gravity sewer from the Prospect Green subdivision roughly 400 feet to the south. The county said the water main should be extended to 1427 North Fountain Green Road before crossing the roadway and the gravity sewer should extend from a manhole near 1402 Sherman Court across North Fountain Green Road to the subject property. The division said parcel 215 should be provided a means to connect and that the site is subject to the Hickory Area Collector Sewer Policy. DPW Engineering required a new plan series for SWM, grading and right-of-way work; it also said the residential road serving 10,000–30,000-sf lots must be a 24-foot closed section with 5-foot sidewalks on both sides within a 50-foot right-of-way rather than an 18-foot open section with roadside ditches.
Neighbor questions: who pays and when? Nearby homeowner Carl King pressed county staff on whether property owners would be required to connect to the new mains and who would pay for lateral extensions and abandonment of holding tanks. County staff and Health Department officials said extending mains to the road does not by itself force a connection; property owners generally must pay to build private laterals from the public main to their houses if they choose to connect. The Health Department said holding tanks must be abandoned and collapsed once a property connects. DPW staff said developer-funded infrastructure is typically turned over to the county after acceptance.
Other technical items Soil Conservation reiterated that the development will disturb more than one acre and will likely require NPDES permitting; State Highway requested a partial deceleration lane and a new plan version showing that improvement. Planning staff said the project is subject to Harford County Forest Conservation Regulations and flagged front-yard setbacks for lots abutting the arterial (60 feet) and required side-yard totals under B1 standards.
