Corrected 1/22/2020
ITEM:		PUBLIC HEARING
14.	CONSIDER REQUEST FOR VARIANCE FROM SEPARATE SUPPLY LINES REQUIREMENT AT A NEW SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING AT 26425 LAURELES GRADE, CARMEL VALLEY, APN: 416-051-005 APPLICANT: JAMES RYAN MCNICKLE
Meeting Date:			January 23, 2020	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			Dave Stoldt,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Stephanie Kister	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Approval: N/A
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: This action does not constitute a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378.

SUMMARY: Ryan McNickle is a requesting a variance from Rule 23-B-2-c requiring separate supply lines in the meter box to supply domestic and fire suppression (Exhibit 14-A). Mr. McNickle received a Water Permit to construct a new Single-Family Dwelling near the top of Los Laureles Grade. The pressure in the Cal-Am system at the Connection is not high enough to operate the fire suppression system.

Mr. McNickle’s variance request is to allow a single water line to enter the property to feed a holding and pressure tank which will provide additional water pressure to the home. Two separate supply lines exit the pressure tank to supply domestic water and fire suppression. District Rule 90 allows the Board to consider variances “…from any provision of the standards incorporated into these Rules and Regulations whenever it finds: (a) that Special Circumstances exist in a particular case, and (b) that practical difficulties or Undue Hardship would result from the strict interpretation and enforcement of any such standard, and (c) that the granting of such a variance would not tend to defeat the purposes of these Rules and Regulations. The Board may place conditions upon such variances.”

In this case, practical difficulties and hardship exist at the Site in the form of low water pressure in the Cal-Am system. Mr. Nickle has no ability to affect the pressure in the system, and he must design his system to overcome the low pressure. In order to meet the District’s requirement for dual supply lines in the meter box, he would have to construct two holding and pressure tanks, which may be considered an Undue Hardship. Approval of separate supply lines as they exit the pressure tank to supply domestic and fire suppression would not defeat the purposes of these Rules and Regulations.

RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the Variance to allow for the use of a single supply line from the meter with separate supply lines as they exit the pressure tank to supply water for Domestic and fire suppression use.

EXHIBITS

14-A Application for Variance

14-B Draft Findings of Approval

14-C Rule 23-B-2.c

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