Point Reyes Light - October 7, 1999
Sewage plan for Lawson's Landing still needs finessing
After nearly a decade of wrangling with the county, the owners of Lawson's Landing in Dillon Beach may soon get approval for plans to renovate and reconfigure the aging trailer park and campground.
The masterplan received the initial green light from county planning in the spring, and now awaits a series of endorsements on the particulars.
County principal planner Dean Powell said this week that his office has received an initial report on the impacts of the Lawson's Landing project, and estimated that the permitting process could be completed by early next year. The study, written by a third-party hired outside of the planning office, evaluates the impacts of the project on the town's environment, traffic, and overall aesthetics.
"I don't see any huge problems in approving the project," Powell said. "It's just a matter of working out the details."
In its current version, the plan calls for replacing a series of individual septic-systems at the site with a new combined sewage-disposal system at a cost of approximately $1.2 million.
The proposal also includes the renovation of several on-site buildings and bathrooms, and the reconfiguration of the entrance to reduce traffic congestion during peak travel times.
Powell noted that the Lawson's Landing plan calls for a number of important improvements to the campground, but there will be several issues for the county and the owners to work out.
The county, he said, may ask that the camping-and-fishing resort add a conservation easement over part of the 980-acre property.
Also at issue is who will manage the new septic system. The 1989 Dillon Beach community plan recommends that a government agency - such as North Marin Water District - operate a sewage-disposal system to serve Lawson's Landing, the old part of town, and the Oceana Marin subdivision. North Marin currently manages the system at Oceana Marin, and recently has been approached by the county to reconsider expanding their service to include the Lawson's Landing system.
"We have commented on the proposed master plan," said North Marin general manager Chris DeGabriele. "And we have noted that the Dillon Beach Community Plan is strongly worded to advocate a community-wide system."
The renewed discussion over North Marin's potential management of the Lawson's system comes as North Marin directors contemplate a new West Marin wastewater policy, which among other things states that the district will not consider service "restricted to a single development or developer's interest."
DeGabriele said the owners have not recently approached North Marin about operating the system, and that the district would provide wider service to the town and Lawson's Landing only if the community wanted them to.
County planner Powell explained that although the proposed septic system would surely meet the county's code requirements, it's unlikely that it could be operated by Lawson's Landing itself.
Regional Water Quality Control Board engineer Will Bruhnes agreed. He said that while generally Regional Water allows counties to oversee septic tanks, they do require that sewage treatment systems - even smaller ones - be operated by a public agency.