Committee defers Clarksburg assisted-living sewer request amid policy concerns and MDE history

The Transportation and Environment Committee on July 13 deferred a county water-and-sewer category change request for a 5.7-acre RE1 parcel on Clarksburg Road proposing an assisted-living facility of roughly 40 beds.

Mr. Levchenko (county staff) said sewer could reach the property via a roughly 200-foot extension from a townhouse development across Clarksburg Road but would require easements; the executive recommended denial because the parcel is outside the planned sewer envelope and the private institutional facility policy only applies to nonprofit uses. "None of the above conditions that I mentioned apply in this case," he said.

Members noted the Planning Board supported approval, arguing the use is a desirable public service and citing a need for senior housing. Committee members also recalled that the council previously proposed a broader commercial sewer service policy that MDE did not approve, and Tim Williamson (DEP Water and Sewer) confirmed MDE had concerns that the earlier policy was too broad and could induce growth without sufficient analysis.

Given those uncertainties and the pending 10-year water-and-sewer plan update, the committee favored deferral to allow broader policy work and research on guardrails that would address MDE’s prior concerns. Staff will draft language for the July 28 resolution to reflect that deferred status.