8/23/2006

Perdue seeks EDUs from Showell plant
By Bob Lassahn

The wastewater treatment plant that formerly served the Perdue chicken processing operation and is under consideration to provide sewage treatment for development in the Showell area was once again an item before the Worcester County Commissioners. During the August 15 meeting the commissioners were made aware that Perdue Farms, Incorporated is requesting an allocation of 500 equivalent dwelling units (EDUs) from the plant's capacity.

Attorney Mark Cropper notified the county of Perdue's intent and filed paperwork for the necessary water and sewer amendment to begin the process. He notes the properties located to the east of Route 113 in the area from Peerless Road and north to Bishopville Road, have been zoned industrial/commercial for many years and Perdue intends to move forward with commercial improvements translating to the need for 500 EDUs.

Mr. Cropper requested the application be considered concurrent with a previously filed application from ADC Builders seeking 1,000 EDUs, whom he also represents, for a residential development in the area.

Sandy Coyman, director of the Department of Comprehensive Planning summarized for the commissioners that since the ADC application is contingent upon results of a study by a consultant on discharge methods from the Showell wastewater plant, the Perdue application would also hinge upon the study. He recommended that Perdue help pay for the consultant fees and also noted that clarification of Perdue's intended land uses will be necessary to verify they are consistent with current zoning. He did not however see a problem with considering the two applications concurrently.

Commissioner Virgil Shockley was somewhat surprised when the request came before the board, commenting that it was his understanding the county would control some 3,000 of the total 4,000 EDUs expected to result from the Showell treatment facility. The Perdue application would take a sizable bite from the share the county is anticipating for use in addressing existing septics as the need might arise.

Commissioner Tom Cetola questioned the issue of rezoning, seeking clarification if any potential zoning changes would be required to comply with the existing zoning plan or if a comprehensive rezoning, in agreement with the recently updated comprehensive plan, is necessary to consider the Perdue applications. That question remains somewhat open ended, but there was agreement that if the property does not require rezoning for the intended uses submitted by Perdue, the issue is moot.

The commissioners agreed to allow the Perdue application to run concurrent with the previous ADC submission as per Mr. Cropper's request. Per their previous agreement with Mr. Cropper on the ADC application other applications necessary for final approval of the project will likely be allowed to move forward before the final report from the wastewater consultant.

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