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Chair says developer's failed septic spilled into park; board pauses on Parcel B conveyance
Summary
During the president's report the chair described a sewer failure at Minder Lodge that sent sewage onto parkland, said engineers reported the incident to DEC, and said the board will review a 2005 master agreement before proceeding with conveyance of Parcel B to the developer who, the chair said, has not remediated the site.
The Chair reported the town discovered sewer product surfacing at Minder Lodge after a pump failure in a 3,000-gallon septic system serving the nearby subdivision. The Chair said contractors on scene identified a frozen pump and that untreated sewage had gurgled into parkland; engineers reported the incident to the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). “This is our park, and his system poured a pile of poop into it,” the Chair said, describing the visible pile of waste and noting the developer had placed temporary markers and a wooden grate over the site instead of removing the material.
The Chair said the town had requested remediation from David Crickler of Front Street Development Corporation and had not yet received a substantive reply; he said the town would meet with attorneys and engineers to determine next steps and that the problem is Front Street’s responsibility and cost. He also linked the incident to an upcoming decision on conveying Parcel B to the developer, saying the 2005 master agreement that underpins the conveyance is 21 years old and raises enforceability and fairness questions given changed land values and park uses.
During the public-comment period, Jerry Harris of North Creek (speaking for himself and Arthur Webb) urged the board to revisit the 2005 agreement and not to rush signing the deed because Front Street has not advanced its original project over two decades. “For over 20 years, Front Street has not advanced its original intent to build,” Harris said, and asked the board to gather all facts before taking action. The board said it will meet with its attorneys and engineers and will not expedite conveyance without resolving outstanding park and environmental concerns.
