Commission reviews groundwater separation and site-restricted property flags in code update

Commissioners reviewed proposed engineering and environmental provisions that would allow the zoning administrator to designate a property as 'site-restricted' based on wetlands, bedrock or poor soils, creating a notice for prospective buyers. Tim Schweki also outlined a proposed groundwater-separation requirement for new construction that would mandate at least one foot between the top of a basement floor and the highest groundwater elevation.

Commissioners asked how applicants would know the groundwater elevation before excavation; Tim said the condition is typically discovered during site exploration or when excavation occurs and is applied to new construction only. "You don't I mean you have to actually dig the hole," Tim said, noting the Village commonly encounters high groundwater and that the rule aims to reduce private and public stormwater costs.