Orange County halts Bithlo rezoning over septic density and water quality concerns

Orange County halts Bithlo rezoning over septic density and water quality concernsCommissioners delayed a request to place additional mobile homes on 0.3-acre lots, citing health code standards for septic systems and the need to protect recent county investments in clean water piping.

The board delayed a rezoning request that would have allowed two mobile homes on 0.3-acre lots in the Bithlo Rural Settlement.

A district commissioner noted the lots fall short of the 0.5-acre health code standard required for safe septic and well operations.

The county recently invested heavily in piping clean water to the area, prompting officials to resist approving new septic tanks in a struggling drain field.

The board also approved a $5.96 million contract amendment with Selectron Technologies for a Utilities Customer Information System Solution.

Orange County commissioners have pushed back against a residential rezoning request in the Bithlo Rural Settlement, citing strict health code standards for septic tanks and ongoing efforts to protect local water quality. The May 19 discussion centered on a request to rezone two 0.3-acre properties on Shepherd Road to allow for two mobile homes. However, a district commissioner raised red flags regarding the wastewater infrastructure requirements, noting that local health codes mandate at least 0.5 acres for properties relying on septic and well systems. The commissioner emphasized that the county has recently invested heavily in water pipes to bring clean water to the Bithlo area. She expressed discomfort with approving additional septic tanks on substandard lots within a struggling drain field, opting instead to delay the hearing until June 30 to explore alternative housing configurations that would minimize wastewater impacts. The septic debate comes as Orange County grapples with broader water management challenges. During the meeting's public comment period, a supervisor from the Orange Soil and Water Conservation District warned the board that the county's per capita water use is more than twice the global average, driven almost entirely by outdoor residential irrigation. Separately, residents of the Lingwood community reported severe infrastructure damage caused by oak tree roots infiltrating local water pipes and sewer lines. Meanwhile, the board advanced several major water utility procurements via its consent agenda without discussion. This included a $5.96 million contract amendment with Selectron Technologies for the county's Utilities Customer Information System, bringing the total contract value to $12.4 million. The county also greenlit a $125,653 task authorization with Black and Veatch Corporation for continuing utilities engineering services, and a $100,691 change order with Geosyntec Consultants for continuing water quality professional services.