County supervisors at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, will hear an appeal of the precise development plan for the proposed French Ranch subdivision in San Geronimo and Forest Knolls.

The appeal filed by Mark and Duffy Warner of Forest Knolls charges that the design of a pond-based, sewage-treatment system (to be shared by the subdivision and Lagunitas School District) is incomplete and hasn't undergone public scrutiny.

However, county planning staff have recommended supervisors deny the llth-hour appeal. The Planning Commission approved the subdivision development plan on July 11.

A staff report contends, "The project plans and accompanying materials provide the public with an adequate description of the proposed and approved site designs for the sewage-disposal system....The appeal does not have sufficient basis to overturn the Planning Commission approval of the project."

The Advanced Integrated Wastewater Pond System (AIWPS) was suggested as a preferable alternative to individual septic fields for the subdivision's houses and neighboring school buildings when county supervisors approved the project's masterplan in 1995.

The Planning Commission this month approved the sewage facility as part of an amendment to the masterplan after reviewing its design in relation to land use. The technical design and operation of the facility are regulated by the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Project's developer Bruce Burman said the regional board is currently reviewing the sewage plant's design in preparation for issuing the necessary operating permits.

"We've submitted everything that the county and state requires, all the environmental documents and all the design documents. We've done everything we have been asked by all the various agencies," he said.

Yet Mark Warner contends it was inappropriate for the county to approve the facility before detailed construction designs were made available to the public.

"There's a whole lot of speculation as to what this design is going to be," he told The Light. "I don't know how they can approve something when they don't know what it is."

Warner also contends the agreement between the French Ranch developers and Lagunitas School District holds the district liable for the facility's maintenance costs if the subdivision doesn't attract enough buyers. His request that county counsel review the contract was made a requirement by the Planning Commission.

Under the agreement, the developer must pay for the construction of the sewage facility and all the connections, including the school's. After 16 houses are sold, the school district must reimburse the contractor for 75 percent of the construction cost, not to exceed $375,000, said Jim Walton, the school's project consultant.

If the houses don't sell, Walton said, the school would retain about $500,000 in state grants for septic facilities and build a mound system instead.

He added that the mound system would run the district $10,000 more in annual maintenance costs, while the proposed sewage facility would save the district additional money by providing tertiary-treated water for irrigating playing fields.

"The school board has acted very prudently. They've done their homework, and they've had legal guidance and review by county counsel," the consultant said. "I feel very confident the school is protected."

Burman noted that the pond-type sewage facility was requested by the community and encouraged by county authorities.

"It was a focal point of the commission's and supervisors' masterplan approval," the developer said. "The approval said to work with the school, and that's what we did. I believe the Board of Supervisors were very clear in that regard."

If the Board of Supervisors does not grant the appeal, Warner said, he will drop the matter. "I'm not necessarily against the development or AIWPS," he said. "I'm just concerned about how it's all going to interact and want to assure are protective measures in place for the school and the community. That's all I ever wanted."