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Committee backs ordinance requiring water-impact studies and council notification for major developments
Summary
The committee unanimously recommended an ordinance to require water-impact studies (using bedrooms/Title 5 flow as a threshold) and to notify the Town Council about anticipated water demand and study findings; the committee emphasized the council’s role would be notification, not approval.
The Rules & Procedures Committee recommended an ordinance to the full Town Council that would require water-impact studies and a formal notification process when major developments may affect the town’s municipal water system.
Chair Sean said the ordinance aims to close transparency and planning gaps by ensuring the council receives timely information on anticipated water demand, pressure testing and final administrative dispositions where studies are completed or where it is unclear why a study was not required. The proposed threshold ties to bedrooms (which connect to Title 5 design flow) so that projects cannot avoid study by undercounting units and later adding bedrooms.
Committee members discussed the town’s process: the water department would perform technical review and the manager would execute decisions, while the council’s role would remain limited to notification and oversight rather than permitting authority. Committee members said the ordinance was designed in consultation with the Town Manager and the water department and noted benefits in making expectations clear for commercial and residential projects. The committee voted 3–0 to recommend the measure to council.
The recommendation moves the ordinance to the Town Council for consideration and possible amendment.
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