INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — An existing county agricultural business, a church and a camp/retreat facility will be allowed to connect to county water and sewer lines, even though they are located outside the county’s Urban Service Area.
The Indian River County Commission, in a split vote, gave the go-ahead for the three, which are located close together on 12th Street west of 58th Avenue, in an area that is more than 500 feet from the USA. Epic Missions and Cornerstone Church can’t connect under the current Comprehensive Plan.
Although the agricultural business, Schacht Groves, is able to connect under the current policy, it supports the change so the three can jointly fund and benefit from the common improvements, and owner Louis Schacht offered to pay for the water line.
Any exception application must be made within a specific, very short window; shall not be considered justification for density increase; and must meet or exceed Utility Service standards and all associated costs, so as to ensure that said costs are not borne by the existing system and its rate payers.
During the lengthy discussion, opponents argued that granting the request would create a “slippery slope” for other entities outside the USA to be brought in, ultimately burdening the systems.
Commissioner Peter O’Bryan expressed concerned that the applicant’s assertion – that the request was based on a need for fire protection – was misleading, nothing more than a way to get county water “under the guise of fire protection.”
Staff gave assurances that the move would in no way burden the system and that the wording of the “very limited” hook-up agreement would not lead to “slippery slope” issues down the road. O’Bryan and Chairman Bob Solari voted to deny the request.