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Planning commission approves rezoning to allow wastewater treatment site; BJWSA representatives outline odor controls and septic-to-sewer opportunities
Summary
The commission approved rezoning a 37.8-acre parcel to Resource Conservation to support a Beaufort‑Jasper (BJWSA) wastewater treatment project intended to relieve capacity at other plants; BJWSA said discharge and odor-control would follow state permitting and that sewer connections could help residents on failing septic systems.
The Jasper County Planning Commission voted July 14 to rezone a 37.8‑acre parcel from Rural Preservation to Resource Conservation to accommodate a future wastewater treatment facility proposed by the Beaufort‑Jasper Water and Sewer Authority (BJWSA).
Staff said the rezoning would support BJWSA’s long‑term plan to increase wastewater capacity and that the parcel is surrounded on three sides by conservation land and wetlands. BJWSA representatives told commissioners the project stems from regulatory and operating needs — including relieving load on other plants — and described design measures that will include odor control and required state and federal permitting.
Taylor Logan identified herself as planning manager for BJWSA and Michael Hansen identified himself as BJWSA’s deputy general manager; Charlie Stone also spoke for the authority. Logan and Hansen said the authority would work with permitting agencies when discharging treated effluent and that, with proper permitting, effluent discharge would go to the New River. Hansen and other BJWSA staff said the project could also create opportunities for voluntary septic‑to‑sewer transitions in adjacent communities when funding allows, and that developers pay capacity fees and authority capital budgets cover the authority’s costs.
Commissioners asked about the receiving waters, odor controls and potential costs to residents who might want to connect. BJWSA said discharge locations and standards are set through state permitting (DES) and the EPA oversees compliance; the authority described odor‑control technology in its design and noted the time horizon to construction is several years. Commissioners pressed for clarity on monitoring, public outreach and whether residents affected by septic failure could access future sewer connections; BJWSA said some past septic‑to‑sewer projects have been funded without cost to participating residents and that grant funding can sometimes cover hookups.
After discussion, the commission voted to adopt staff’s recommendation and approve the rezoning; the meeting record shows the motion carried with one recorded opposition. The rezoning makes the parcel a permitted location for treatment under the Resource Conservation (RC) district as described in the staff packet and will proceed to public‑hearing noticing and subsequent permitting steps.
Staff said public hearing notices will be sent to adjacent landowners as required and that further agency permitting will govern effluent standards, discharge location and construction timing.
