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City of Ann Arbor SSWWEP - Citizens Advisory Committee Coordination — City of Ann Arbor

2.48 -C- What is the legal justification of the developer mitigation program?

Posted by Lori Byron on 21 Dec, 2013
Category: Category 2 - about potential recommendations

Frank Burdick’s Log Number: N/A
Submitted by: August CAC meeting
Category (1,2,3): 2
Status: Closed
Estimated date to address: N/A

Q. What is the legal justification of the developer mitigation program?

[CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE] A. The interface between the Developer Offset Mitigation Program and property owners who may take advantage of the program to fund their footing drain disconnect is simply a funding mechanism. It is purely voluntary for any property owner who is offered funding by a developer. The property owner is free to accept or refuse the offer. The ability of a property owner to accept or reject a developer’s offer is distinct from an obligation to disconnect that the City might impose under Sec. 2:51.1 of the City Code.
 
While there might be disagreement as to the best way to minimize or limit the impact of a new development on the sanitary sewer system, the City is not legally required to pick the best option. This choice also has benefit of reducing risks of storm water overflows from combined sanitary and storm flows in the sanitary sewer system. In addition, property owners who take advantage of a developer’s offer are not subject to the same subsidy limits as property owners whose footing drain disconnects are funded by the City. 

Comments

Frank Burdick on 1 Feb, 2014:

I don't understand this response.  The city mandates that the homeowner installs the sump pump but this  responses implies that the homeowner is getting a favor by having the developer help pay for it... then the city inspect its.... or taxes the Owner if it's not installed.

WHO AT THE CITY PROVIDED THIS ANSWER?