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Septic tank rules to be amended after real estate agents’ protests
By Lynn Hotaling
Recent revised septic tank approval procedures will likely be amended again in the wake of last week’s protests from southern Jackson County real estate agents.
Most speakers at last Tuesday’s (Aug. 24) county commissioners’ meeting in Cashiers denounced changes in environmental health permit procedures that require homesites to be staked out before an initial evaluation will be completed.
Paula Carden, director of Jackson County’s Department of Public Health, assured the crowd she thought the rules could be amended, and she confirmed this week that they likely will be.
For an improvements permit, only the approximate location of the potential structure will be required, Carden said. However, for construction authorization, the exact location of all planned structures must be finalized and staked, she said.
Carden said she had polled the members of the county’s Board of Health and anticipates approval of the proposed change.
The real estate agents who spoke against “Item 6,” the Health Department checklist requirement that said a final homesite should be staked before an environmental health specialist would make any determination about whether a lot would be approved for a septic permit, said it would be costly to investors.
“Many people buy with the intent to build in three to five years,” one real estate specialist said. “They’re not sure exactly where they’ll build but know they’ll need a septic system.”
Out-of-town buyers often don’t reach a final decision on a lot while they’re looking at property in Jackson County but need tentative approval from the Health Department before closing on property, another agent said.
In a report to commissioners, Carden indicated that her department has reduced its backlog and is now usually able to schedule site visits within two weeks of the time a request is made.
When asked about the feasibility of a branch office in Cashiers to assist with the greater amount of construction in the southern end of the county, Carden said she didn’t think it would help to place an environmental health specialist there.
“They’re in the field; they wouldn’t be there to answer questions,” she said.
It might be feasible to open an office staffed by clerical support personnel to accept applications from Cashiers-area residents, she said.
Carden supplied commissioners with a breakdown of septic applications and site visits for the second half of July and first part of August.
Environmental health specialists made 348 site visits from July 19-31 and had completed 440 through Aug. 20. Applications received in the July period totalled 33; applications made Aug. 1-20 numbered 59.
John Wittekind, code administrator for Jackson County, reported the number of building permits issued in July and August.
From Aug. 1-26, there were 36 permits issued for single-family dwellings, 13 for manufactured homes, 13 additions and one new commercial building.
For the month of July, permits were granted for 43 single-family homes, 23 manufactured homes, 14 additions and eight commercial buildings.
Wittekind said he was asked to determine the percentage of new construction that was occurring in the southern end of the county, which he defined as “the top of Cullowhee Mountain and Trout Creek south.”
Basing his estimate on new homes only, 39 percent (17 of 43) of permits granted in July were for homes in the Glenville-Cashiers area, with that percentage rising in August to 47 percent (17 of 36).
Wittekind also told commissioners that 48 reviews of construction plans had been completed in August with an average turnaround time of slightly under one day.
When asked about a Cashiers office, Wittekind told commissioners it would be fine with him but would require at least one and maybe two new staff positions to operate.
Carden and Wittekind were asked to report to commissioners in the wake of June discussions about a backlog in the permitting process for new construction.
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