The provisions herein apply to the approval and construction
of a water or sewer extension or associated facility other than one
constructed as part of a capital improvement program of the City of
Aberdeen and to establish and collect recoupment fees for purposes
of reimbursing developers or property owners for the costs of the
construction of water- or sewer lines or associated facilities accepted
and incorporated into the utility system of the City of Aberdeen and
to be used by others thereafter.
As used in this Part
5, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ASSOCIATED FACILITY
An improvement that is used in conjunction with water- or
sewer line that provides water or sewer service to a parcel or lot
of land, regardless of where the associated facility is located. The
term includes a lift station, force main, pump station, storage tank
and the like, or an addition to an existing utility that increases
the capability of the existing facility to provide water or sewer
service.
CONSTRUCTION
With reference to construction of a utility means the actual
physical construction of the utility and the designing of, surveying
for, or laying out of a utility that occurs before the physical construction
of the utility.
DEVELOPER
The person, business, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, or unincorporated association responsible for the development
of a parcel or lot, and includes the owner or developer.
DIRECTOR OF DPW
The Director of the City Department of Public Works, or his
or her designee.
RECOUPMENT FEE
A charge made against a parcel or lot for purposes of reimbursing
the City for an owner's or developer's proportionate share of
the costs of extending a water- or sewer line and associated facilities
that serve the parcel or lot against which the charge is made.
SERVICE AREA
Identifiable lots or parcels of land determined by the Director
of DPW to be served by the utility extension and consistent with the
Harford County Master Water and Sewer Plan.
UTILITY AGREEMENT
A legal document between the City and the person or entity
requesting the utility extension that defines the responsibilities
and requirements of the person or entity requesting a utility extension.
A utility agreement may not be required at the sole discretion of
City.
UTILITY EXTENSION
Water- or sewer line or an associated facility that is deemed
by the City to be necessary to extend water or sewer service which
is consistent with the Harford County Master Water and Sewer Plan.
UTILITY EXTENSION APPLICATION
A request in writing to the Director of DPW for construction
of an extension of water or sewer service to a parcel or lot or the
construction of an associated facility.
WATER- OR SEWER LINE
A necessary appurtenance to the City water distribution or
sewer collection system. The term includes a valve, manhole, connection,
air release, diversion, and other equipment necessary to make the
water distribution or sewer collection system operable in compliance
with the design criteria and standards in accordance with the Harford
County Water and Sewer Division Manual and the City's exceptions
and materials listing.
A developer or property owner that intends to construct a water-
or sewer line or an associated facility that, on acceptance, will
become part of the City water and sewer system and which supplies
capacity to other existing or new developments may apply to the City
to establish recoupment fees to be paid by other users of the facilities
within the service area and for the City to reimburse the developer
or property owner a proportional amount of the costs of constructing
such improvements.
The amount of the cost reimbursement for an improvement, if
any, shall be based on engineering cost estimates agreed upon in writing
by the Director of DPW and the applicant and verified in a study provided
by the applicant. The study shall aggregate the costs of associated
improvements where feasible. The City may establish guidelines for
eligible costs to administer the policy in this section. The study
shall contain the following minimum elements:
A. Identification of the service area and all properties to be served
by the water- or sewer lines or associated facilities to be constructed;
B. Identification of the costs of the utilities to be installed;
C. Apportionment of the costs of the utilities to be installed among
lots, tracts or parcels to be served by the improvements, based upon
capacity to be utilized by such properties, using accepted engineering
standards and practices;
D. Calculation of the maximum amount of the costs which are to be reimbursed
to the developer or property owner, net of costs attributable to the
developer's or property owner's utilization of capacity
of the lines or associated facilities; and
E. Calculation of a recoupment fee to be charged per parcel or lot of
land that is to be connected to the water- or sewer lines or associated
facilities.