During a DeKalb County “developer/contractor open house” last week, Margaret Tanner, deputy director of the office of engineering and construction management services, gave an update on the county sewer capacity limitations.
“Under county code, upsizing the pipes is the responsibility of the developer,” she told the AJC. “But (DeKalb) is under a (federal constraint) decree, meaning we have to upgrade (undersized) pipes to current conditions. What we’re saying (to developers), let’s work together to come up with a solution.”
On Sept. 25 the AJC reported that DeKalb identified 11 proposed development sites with potential sewer capacity limitations, and 60 other projects are still being evaluated.
One of those identified is Decatur’s Callaway Building property, where Cousins Properties has been planning to break ground on a 329-apartment, mixed-use development early next year.
Tanner admitted the county is still in the early stages of figuring out just how serious its sewer problems are, and which areas have the most immediate needs. But she added that sewer limitations “haven’t prevented developments from moving forward.”
She mentioned several ways that county and developers could collaborate:
“Cost sharing is definitely one way we can help,” Tanner said “I can also help them find a way to deal with wastewater by building an on-site cooling tower, or providing irrigation for landscaping with reclaimed water.”
She also mentioned Arlo, the mixed-use project near downtown Decatur, where Centro Development paid for sewer upgrades while the county paid for materials.
About the Author
