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Sewer connection for Dares Beach house approved
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009
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A Dares Beach couple can connect to a county sewer system, the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners decided at its meeting Tuesday, pending a legal review. However, the decision does not signal an intention to allow higher-density development in the area, they said.
Jennifer and Thomas Komenda, who live on Macrae Avenue, petitioned the county to allow them to connect their home to the public sewer after their septic system failed, according to documents. Agreeing with a recommendation made last week by the Calvert County Planning Commission, the commissioners decided to allow it, provided it is permissible under the conditions of the grant used to fund the original system, which is north of Virginia Avenue.
"The 1,000-pound gorilla this county has in front of it is water and sewer systems, more sewer than water," Commissioner Jerry Clark (R) said.
The commissioners said their decision would be beneficial to the environment and public health. "I'd be real concerned if I was either one of [the Komendas'] neighbors" because of the failed septic system, Commissioner Barbara Stinnett (D) said.
"This house is about 800 feet from the Chesapeake Bay, which means it is within 1,000 feet of the critical area of the bay. So putting them on the sewer is what we should be doing. It gets rid of one septic system," said Commissioners' President Wilson Parran (D).
Director of Calvert County Planning and Zoning Greg Bowen said the decision would not open up Dares Beach in general to sewer connections because the system, designed to serve one nearby neighborhood, doesn't have the capacity. Utilities Bureau Chief Barry King certified that the system could handle the Komenda house, however.
In other business, the commissioners:
- Approved a Historic District Application for a house called Shady Rest, on 2240 Solomons Island Road in Huntingtown;
- Granted a certification of development options for an Agricultural Preservation District to Eloise Sapp, Geraldine Lankford and Phyllis Combs, for a property on Adelina Road in Prince Frederick;
- Awarded charitable bingo permits to the Music Boosters of Northern Calvert County, the St. Leonard Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad Co. 7 Alarmers and the Autism Project. The Alarmers also received a charitable pull-tabs permit;
- Approved a budget adjustment to establish a swim lesson budget;
- Approved 2 Transferable Development Rights for a lot in the Chesapeake Ranch Estates in Lusby. Kelley dissented, saying the lot is not buildable.
