To: Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District
Staff Name and Phone Number: Keith Hanna, 565-3628
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): First
Title:
Title
Outside Service Area Agreement with the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District for Thomason; SEW21-0093.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the General Manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency to execute an Outside Service Area Agreement for public sewer service to property located at 215 E. Watmaugh Road, Sonoma, California; APN: 128-352-014. (First District)
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Executive Summary:
The recommended resolution will authorize the General Manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) to execute an Outside Service Area Agreement between the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District and the property owner Scott H. Thomason, an unmarried man, for public sewer service to property located at Assessor Parcel Number (APN) 128-352-014 located at 215 E. Watmaugh Road, Sonoma, California.
Discussion:
The Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management Department (Permit Sonoma) received an application for an Outside Service Area Agreement (Agreement) to provide public sewer service to property located at 215 E. Watmaugh Road, Sonoma, California. The application was submitted by Robertson Engineering, Inc. on behalf of the property owner, Scott H. Thomason, an unmarried man (Owner).
The proposed Agreement would allow the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District (District) to provide public sewer service to this parcel within its Sphere of Influence. This service is subject to the requirements of and authorized by the Sonoma County Policy LU-20II, and allowing connection of the existing single-family dwelling (SFD) and accessory dwelling unit (ADU), and future half-bath in the existing barn, to the public sewer.
215 E. Watmaugh Road (APN 128-352-014) is a 0.78-acre residential parcel. The property access is off E. Watmaugh Road, which borders the northerly property line. The property has an existing single-family residence, accessory dwelling unit, barn, shed, is generally flat, and is covered by grasses, shrubs and trees.
Because 215 E. Watmaugh Road is in the Sphere of Influence, County land use policy prescribes the appropriate method for property owners to obtain sewer service. Annexation is used when a property is located inside the urban service area of a sanitation district or zone. Pursuant to Policy LU-2011, owners of properties in the Sphere of Influence of the District, not located within the urban service area of a sanitation district or zone, must apply for sewer service by means of an Outside Service Area Agreement. Because the property is not within the urban service area, the Agreement, and not an annexation, is applicable here.
Permit Sonoma Comprehensive Planning Division staff has determined that 215 E. Watmaugh Road is located inside the District’s 2009 amended and expanded Sphere of Influence, that extension of public sewer service to the Parcel is subject to the provisions of the Sonoma County 2020 General Plan and Land Use Policy LU-20ll, and that the Agreement is consistent with LU-2011 for connection of the existing legally established uses. The Agreement does not authorize service for additional buildings or expanded development on the parcel.
Sonoma Water staff, which operates the District under contract, has determined that a sewer main extension in E. Watmaugh Road will be required in accordance with “Sonoma Valley CSD SOI Expansion Master Plan”, December 2013. Side sewers shall connect the existing SFD and ADU, and future half-bath in the existing barn on the Parcel, to the new sewer main. All sewer work, including the new sewer main and side sewers, shall be constructed in compliance with the District Sanitation Code Ordinance, and “Sonoma County Water Agency, Design and Construction Standards for Sanitation Facilities”. No capacity issues within the existing collection system are anticipated.
The Owner shall pay Sewer Connection fees, as they are calculated using the most current fee schedule at the time of permitting, and Annual Service Charges to the District for sewer service to the property for the property’s uses.
Following approval of the Agreement by the District’s Board of Directors, the Owner shall complete a Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) application for Permit Sonoma’s review and submittal to LAFCO. The Owner shall include with the application, payment of all required LAFCO fees. The Agreement shall not be effective until such time as it has been approved by LAFCO.
Sonoma Water’s General Manager has determined that approval of the Agreement is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301(b), Existing Facilities, as it represents an additional connection to an existing public facility that involves negligible or no expansion of an existing or former use, and Section 15303(d), New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures, as it consists of construction of limited new, small sewage improvement of reasonable length to serve the parcel. District staff has prepared a Notice of Exemption in accordance with the CEQA, the State CEQA Guidelines and the District’s Procedures for the Implementation of CEQA.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Prior Board Actions:
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Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
N/A
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1: SVCSD Resolution
Attachment 2: Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
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