Council Approves East Point Addition Replat; Properties to Use Holding Tanks Until Sewer Becomes Available
- Steve Jurrens
- 2 hours ago
- 1 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council approved Resolution 26‑15, a replat of the East Point Addition, allowing the property owner to subdivide land for sale despite the area lacking access to public sanitary sewer.
Community Development Manager Brandi Hanten explained why the plat required council approval rather than administrative approval.
“This area has been platted previously — this is a replat as the property owner is looking to sell off some of the properties,” Hanten said. “It’s before you and not administratively approved because this portion of 14th Avenue didn’t have sanitary sewer in the adjacent right‑of‑way.”
Because the nearest sewer line is more than 200 feet away, the properties will be served by sealed holding tanks, which are allowed under city ordinance.
“These properties will be served by private sealed holding tanks, which is allowable within Title 17 when the property is over 200 linear feet away from the public sanitary sewer,” Hanten said. “It’s just not our preferred method.”
Councilman Doug Allen asked when the properties would be required to connect to the sewer.
City Manager Alan Stager responded:
“At the point in time that there is a sewer main constructed within 200 feet, they are required to tie into it,” Stager said. “There is a sewer line 500 feet away connected to a low‑volume lift station, and we are exploring the possibility of asking them to connect to that line.”
The resolution passed unanimously following a roll‑call vote.
