Proposed Expansion of the Sanitary Sewer Service Area
Fact Sheet Ryan Creek Interceptor Acquisition Map
The City of Franklin is proposing to expand its planned sanitary sewer service area. The currently adopted planned sewer service area includes all but the south central and southwestern portions of the City. The City is proposing to add those lands to the planned sanitary sewer service area (see map on reverse side).
This fact sheet is intended to explain what a planned sanitary sewer service area is, why the City is proposing to expand its sewer service area, and the impacts of including land in a planned sanitary sewer service area.
WHAT IS A PLANNED SANITARY SEWER SERVICE AREA?
A planned sanitary sewer service area is a locally identified area within which sanitary sewers may be extended. It does not require that sewers be extended. Under State code, sewers may be extended only to areas located within a planned sewer service area.
A sewer service area plan is a long-range plan for the future; it may be many years before sewer service is actually extended to some portions of a planned sewer service area.
Local sewer service area plans must be part of an areawide water quality management plan. As the agency responsible for the areawide water quality management plan in Southeastern Wisconsin, the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) assists communities such as the City of Franklin in their efforts to prepare local sewer service area plans.
WHY IS THE FRANKLIN SEWER SERVICE AREA PROPOSED TO BE EXPANDED?
The expansion of the sewer service area is consistent with the City’s adopted long-range comprehensive plan. It would enable the extension of sewer service to the anticipated development proposed in the City’s comprehensive plan.
The sewer service area plan includes provisions which serve to substantially protect environmentally significant lands from sewered urban development—also consistent with the City’s comprehensive plan.
The expansion of the Franklin sewer service area is necessary for the City to move forward with the proposed Ryan Creek interceptor sewer, which would be able to serve the south central and southwestern portions of the City.
The expansion of the sewer service area is consistent with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District’s long-range master facilities plan.
WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS ON PROPERTY OWNERS IN AREAS ADDED TO THE SEWER SERVICE AREA?
Lands added to the sewer service area would be able to be served by sanitary sewer service in the future, as sewer utility service becomes available in the years ahead.
Expanding the planned sewer service area does not change zoning.
Expansion of the planned sewer service area does not, in and of itself, have any cost impact on property owners in the expanded area, as this is a preliminary Wisconsin legal process requirement step for bringing public sanitary sewer service to property. Upon a further process requirement step determination that a property is to be included within the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, as discussed under the next section of this Fact Sheet, the property would then be subject to District property taxation.
HOW DOES THIS ACTION TO EXPAND THE PLANNED SEWER SERVICE AREA RELATE TO THE MILWAUKEE METROPOLITAN SEWERAGE DISTRICT?
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) operates the sewage treatment plant and major interceptor sewers which serve the City of Franklin. The District currently includes all of Milwaukee County except the south central and southwestern portions of the City of Franklin and the City of South Milwaukee, which has its own wastewater treatment plant.
The inclusion of the south central and southwestern portions of the City of Franklin in the planned sanitary sewer service area permits, but does not automatically add these lands to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. The MMSD Commission may add these lands to the District. A separate public hearing would need to be held by the MMSD Commission on that matter before action is taken by the MMSD Commission. Taxable property included within the District is subject to the MMSD capital improvements property tax levy.
AREAS PROPOSED TO BE ADDED TO THE CITY OF FRANKLIN
PLANNED SANITARY SEWER SERVICE AREA
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE PLANNED SANITARY SEWER SERVICE AREA
A public hearing on the proposed amendment to the City of Franklin sanitary sewer service area was held on May 3, 2011.
For additional information, contact City of Franklin consulting Ryan Creek Interceptor Sewer Project engineer Joseph W. Eberle, at Ruekert & Mielke, Inc.: (262) 542-5733 or jeberle@ruekert-mielke.com.