TRAVIS TALKS SEPTIC, SEWERS.  SAYS LAKE MONROE INITIATIVES WOULD SET POISON PRECEDENT

Sophia Travis, at-large candidate for Monroe County Council, today joined the other Democrat commissioner and council candidates in expressing her concern over potential development in the Lake Monroe watershed area.

“The other side is presenting the issue as a false dichotomy, “ said Travis, “they’re trying to convince Monroe County residents that the only choice they have is either between having septic systems or sewer systems around the lake.  Those aren’t the only choices facing us.  They’re trying to use cheap scare tactics to ensure developer profits at the expense of our drinking water as well as one of our most important economic assets.”

Travis cited the recent “Shawnee Bluffs” development, noting that the out-of-county developer is seeking a rezone of the land in order to allow greater density than the current zoning now allows.  In exchange for the rezone, the developer has offered to build a sewage treatment plant onsite -- a plant discharging directly into the lake.

“Because the developer is seeking something from the county, namely a rezone, we have a unique opportunity to simply say ‘no’,” said Travis.  “The developer purchased the land fully aware of its existing zoning and the limitations that zoning placed on development.  The plan commission is under no obligation to guarantee huge private profits at the expense of the public’s lake and water.”

Travis worried that the grant of a rezone would set new precedent with regard to lake development.  She noted that while there are small sewer systems around the lake, including the Pedigo Bay system, they discharge downstream of Lake Monroe.

“This sets new precedent.  If we allow this rezone, if we allow an ad-hoc Planned Unit Development (PUD) for Shawnee then what will we say to the next developer who wants to do the exact same thing, who wants to throw out the old zoning and put in a dense subdivision?  I can tell you one thing, we’re not going to say ‘no.’  If we do this, we’ll never be able to say ‘no’ again and we’ll effectively wipe out all of the existing zoning at the lake.”

If elected this November, Travis pledged to work hard to use the county council’s representation on the Monroe County Planning Commission to appoint commission members who put broad public interests ahead of narrow private ones.

She concluded: “In this day and age, clean water is no longer an unlimited resource.”