Some of us dream of winning the lottery or taking a vacation in a tropical location, but Cindy Radliff of Selkirk says she dreams of getting a sewer line brought to her properties.
She owns properties on Cottage Lane near Beaverdam Road and Maple Avenue, neither of which have sewer connections. A high water table and small lot sizes make septic systems unsavory choices, she said.
Radliff spoke at a public hearing at Town Hall during the Tuesday, July 21, planning board meeting for a four-lot subdivision on Maple Avenue. She along with a handful of other residents said they have been trying to get sewer access for years, but to no avail.
I’ve been trying to get sewer for the past 32 years and was always told to wait until homes are in back of you. Well, there are homes behind me and nothing has happened, she told the board. `I am getting a petition to try to bring sewer in.`
Another nearby resident, Russell Sawyer, told developers `that natural drain has to be protected,` referring to a natural slope where surface water can flow away from the properties. Sawyer said water currently sits on the lots, `even after just a little bit of rain.`
Radliff also said she took notice that the nearby Stewart’s Shop on Route 9W had sewer, but the houses nearby did not.
The town’s assistant engineer and land surveyor Terrence Ritz told The Spotlight that without more development in the area, little could be done because the cost would be so prohibitive for the few users that could take advantage of it.
`With new development, the developer actually builds the sewer hookups and sewer district extensions have to be voted on by the Town Board,` Ritz said. `Five or six years ago there was proposal to build a cul-de-sac with a dozen homes on it and to bring in sewer.`
Ritz said the plans fell through, but noted during the planning board meeting that new homes in the area are built higher than older ones because of the water table problem. He said the Albany County Department of Health permits and inspects problems with septic systems.
Ritz said there had been `some problems` with septic in the area.
He questioned whether even sharing the costs with neighbors would justify the high cost of sewer as it correlated to their property’s value.
`It just expensive, no matter what,` said Ritz.
Radliff met with planning division members to discuss the sewer situation on Thursday, July 23. Although the meeting went well and she discussed several options with the town, Radliff said she is going forward with her petition to the Town Board.
`I spoke with many nice and concerned property owners when I did this petition. I found out like me, money was a very important factor, so I advised the town that the cost was a very important factor. No one can afford this with out help,` Radliff said. `I honestly feel that this project can be done because of the ARI (America Recovery and Investment Act) and of course with the Town of Bethlehem’s help and determination.`
She gave a final public pitch to her neighbors.
`I urge those property owners who signed the petition to get involved and ask for ARI funds,` she said. `I am also very concerned about the wetlands and possible more run-off water from nearby subdivisions. I want to make sure that these wetlands are not destroyed or damaged.`
The developer of the four-lot subdivision said bringing sewer in for the four lots was not something that was economically feasible at this time and that the federal wetlands in the area keep the density very low, therefore preventing the amount of homes necessary to constitute the costs of sewer.
Those interested in Radliff’s petition can contact her at [email protected].
`I want to thank Terry Ritz, Robert Leslie, Josh Cansler and the other town employees that will hopefully help us make this dream come true,` Radliff said.
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