LAS CRUCES - The Dona Ana County Planning and Zoning Commission will vote today on a measure that would allow new sewage disposal ponds to be built on vacant land east of Mesquite.

Johnny's Septic Tank Co. of Las Cruces is proposing to eventually build six septic ponds that could accept up to 20,000 gallons per day of sewage, according to agenda documents. Two ponds are proposed for the first phase.

The 15-acre site is located in an undeveloped region east of Interstate 10 off the Mesquite Exit and near two county-owned sewage disposal ponds that were shut down earlier this year.

The company is seeking approval of a planned unit development overlay for the facility, according to the agenda. Chuck McMahon, who oversees the county planning department, said that differs from the type of zoning in the city of Las Cruces, for instance, which authorizes an array of land uses within a particular category. In a PUD, a developer seeks zoning for only a limited, specific use - such as the septic ponds proposed in today's case, he said.

Albert Casillas, planner with the county, said the site is two to three miles east of Interstate 10 and about four miles from the nearest homes. He said the county has fielded no complaints about the proposal yet.

In addition, Johnny's Septic Co. is seeking approval of its preliminary site plan.

County officials said the company would have to comply with state Environment Department rules to go forward with the project.

The first two

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ponds would total 15,000 and 25,000 square feet in area, but grow to 121,500 square-feet as the facility expands, according to the agenda.

County staff have recommended the item be approved.

The nearby shut-down, county-owned ponds - built in the late '90s - ran into problems in recent years because used grease from restaurants was dumped into the ponds along with sewage, said Assistant County Manager Sue Padilla. The grease interfered with the natural sewage break-down process and kept liquid from evaporating, she said.

"Basically what it did was clog up the system," she said.

Padilla said the county stopped accepting restaurant grease at the ponds several years ago.

But it halted sewage-dumping on July 1 of this year. Padilla said private sewage hauling companies are instead being routed to a La Mesa wastewater treatment plant that has been modified to accommodate them. In July, some 511,000 gallons was accepted at the plant from the sewage-hauling companies, she said.

According to today's agenda, Johnny's Septic Tank Co. would only dispose of waste from its own operations - and not that of other collection companies - at the proposed new ponds. Company owner Danny Suggs couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.

McMahon said the Planning and Zoning Commission can vote to approve the application, OK it with conditions, deny it or postpone action. The vote is slated for 9 a.m. today at the Dona Ana County Government Center, 845 N. Motel Blvd., Las Cruces.

Diana M. Alba can be reached at (575) 541-5443

On the Web:

To view the agenda for today's meeting:

http://www.co.dona-ana.nm.us/news/ETZ-ETA/P&Z_2010-12-09_PUD_10-003.pdf

If you go

•What: Do-a Ana County Planning and Zoning Commission vote on proposed septic disposal facility

•When: 9 a.m. today

•Where: Do-a Ana County Government Center, 845 N. Motel Blvd., Las Cruces

•Info: 647-7200