Panel caps sewer pacts in Copper

Published: April 13, 2006

 

 

By CHRIS NICHOLS

 

The Calaveras County Water District yesterday stopped accepting new sewer-service agreements for the burgeoning Copperopolis area, halting building plans for one of the town's largest planned developments.

The service ban was enacted as part of a larger effort to keep the town's near-capacity sewer storage pond from overflowing. Directors voted 4-1 to approve the ban which goes into effect immediately and will be reviewed July 1.

Without a sewer service agreement, developers of large projects — like Copperopolis Town Square — cannot begin construction or even apply for building permits.

The ban only applies to new subdivisions that have not yet reached a sewer service agreement with the district. New individual homes will still be eligible for sewer service.

District directors noted that recent construction projects are at least somewhat to blame for the near-capacity volume at the pond, with persistent rain being the largest factor. They also noted that the district faces a $325,000 fine from the state if the pond spills.

"We don't want to be in the way of progress, but we still need to look at the liability of a spill," said CCWD Director Charles Hebrard, speaking after yesterday's board meeting.

Developers for Copperopolis Town Square, formerly known as the Copper Mill project, said the ban would delay their 27-acre commercial and residential center, planned along Highway 4 near Little John Road.

"I think this is going to be seriously debilitating to the company," said Paul Stein, vice president of land planning for Castle and Cooke, Calaveras Inc., the company building the project.

Stein said he could not estimate how long the project would be delayed.

He added that he hopes the district will consider allowing some building to take place at the project, even if it means slowing some building at the company's nearby residential project, Saddle Creek.

CCWD directors Hebrard and Robert Dean said they support that idea, noting the town center would provide an economic boost to the town and county.

"If it's possible to make a swap, I'd like to see it," Dean said after the meeting.

Jennifer Harder, the district's general counsel, said she wasn't sure an exchange is legally possible.

"There are some serious legal issues surrounding that," she said, adding she couldn't elaborate on those issues. "They're different projects."

The Copperopolis Town Square was unanimously approved earlier this year by the county's Board of Supervisors. It was praised by county officials and community members for being a well-planned project. Saddle Creek was approved several years ago and is partially built.

Once built, Copperopolis Town Square will include specialty food and clothing stores, numerous live-work lofts, office space, a town square and a park.

Stein added he's still confident an exchange could work and that construction could begin by early summer. He noted that grading should begin soon and will last two months.

"We're going to put this town square together in 16 months," he said after the meeting. "We don't have time to be waiting. We want to do this immediately."

 

Contact Chris Nichols at cnichols@uniondemocrat.com or 736-1234