Board approves water and sewer service for speculative Wilson Mills industrial site

Public Utilities Director Chandra Farmer briefed the board on a request for county water and sewer service to a parcel at 4800 US Highway 70 seeking annexation into the Town of Wilson Mills. Farmer described the project as a speculative warehouse and distribution facility of approximately "224,000 square feet" and told commissioners the anticipated water and wastewater demand is "relatively low at 3,400 gallons per day."

Farmer said Little Creek Water District currently has available water capacity and the county's wastewater plant has treatment capacity, but downstream transmission capacity "may have transmission capacity restrictions" and the proposed connection point would tie into the East Hampton Subdivision manhole. She stressed that, under county policy, the engineer and developer would be responsible for analyzing downstream capacity and for designing and implementing any upgrades; developers would also be responsible for downstream reimbursement obligations to other developers if applicable.

Commissioners asked whether the site is already zoned industrial (Farmer said zoning would be a town decision after annexation) and how per-bedroom usage was calculated; Farmer cited the state standard of "75 gallons per day per bedroom" for residential calculations used in permitting.

The board voted to approve utility service in accordance with the interlocal agreement with the Town of Wilson Mills and county ordinances and to authorize the public utilities director to sign the written determination on the board's behalf.