Residents continued to speak out Thursday night against a proposed Jim Thorpe Borough zoning change that would allow on-lot septic systems on larger tracts of land near Mauch Chunk Lake.

The borough remains in the review phase of the potential change as it continues to solicit comments from its own planning commission as well as that of the county.

A subdivision planned by Lentz Trail property owner Ed Kanick prompted a look at the zoning change. Currently, Kanick would need to hook on to public sewer in order to build the homes, but the proposed change would allow on-lot septic systems for properties 5 acres or larger that are at least 1,000 feet, but less than a half-mile, from the lake.

“One of the things we love about Carbon County is Mauch Chunk Lake,” Save Carbon County President Linda Christman said during a council meeting Thursday. “Our members and residents of Jim Thorpe here tonight are concerned that your council has agreed to change the special district zoning. The developer knew of the restrictive zoning when he purchased the property. I don’t know why council has agreed to consider changing the zoning.”

Kanick said his subdivision plan is an effort to have his family living closer together. In October, he said the maximum homes he planned to build was around nine spread out over 60 acres.

Council President Greg Strubinger said the governing body has a lot to chew on when making the decision, including the possibility that Kanick could pay to extend the public sewer line out to the property. That, Strubinger said, could result in much larger quantity of homes.

“If he extends the municipal line out there,” Strubinger said, “you could be looking at around 60 homes instead of maybe 10-12. If that happens, there is the potential for huge runoff from the construction of driveways and things of that nature. Mr. Kanick has agreed to put safeguards and deed restrictions in place including a secondary absorption area and annual inspections of the system.”

In addition, Councilman Mike Yeastedt said, Kanick has presented evidence that the property passed a percolation test, which is a requirement for an on-lot sewage system in the borough.

Opposition to the change, however, has been steady and members of Jim Thorpe’s planning commission and the Carbon County Commissioners have publicly spoken against it.

North Avenue resident Sharon Lo Pinto joined the call to protect the lake-bordering land Thursday night.

“What we have in the lake and the water that runs from it, which gives us our drinking water and a beautiful trout stream, these are jewels and gifts from the Earth to share and enjoy,” Lo Pinto said. “They are so easily lost with shortsightedness. The Earth is changing because of our human behavior. This is one tiny little corner that we have an ability to foster into the future.”

There has been no evidence, Strubinger said during the meeting, that there has been leakage from any septic systems on the Summit Hill side of the lake.

Lo Pinto’s husband Ciro said his work in soil conservation has shown him differently.

“Septic systems in my career were always the thing that failed and nobody knew it was failing,” Ciro said. “You flush the toilet and cross your fingers and hope everything disappeared. The people further away from the lake are much less of a danger than those close to it. In my line of work, if there were three people next to the lake with a leaky system, the lake never got cleaner. One person wants the rules changed and it opens the door for a lot of other unforeseen changes.”

Kanick said he’ll comply with whatever measures are necessary to ensure the protection of the surrounding area.

“The system will have an alarm on it,” Kanick said. “We are going to have yearly inspections included under deed restrictions and mandatory system pump outs every three years.

Jim Thorpe’s sewage enforcement officer, Kanick said, did 14 septic tests on the property, passing all of them “with flying colors.”

“The sewage officer stated it was some of the nicest soil he’s seen to handle septic,” Kanick said. “The deed restrictions will have that only one house per lot will be allowed and they are irreversible. The lots are going to range from 5 to 10 acres so it’s not like we’re overdeveloping it like some are claiming we are.”

There are questions over the origin of the half-mile on-lot septic buffer from Mauch Chunk Lake, Strubinger said. Councilwoman Jessica Crowley, however, recalled a conversation with Jim Thorpe Planning Commission Chairman Lou Hall, during which he said it was done based on the county’s assessment of the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

“I’m shocked to hear anyone would suggest there is no evidence septic tanks leak into bodies of water,” Crowley said. “I didn’t think I had to bring any here tonight, but the evidence is plentiful.”

Christman called on the borough to have a “well-advertised public hearing” and move swiftly to bring the matter to a close.

“The developer has been heard, but we don’t feel the public really has at this point,” Christman said.

A public hearing is required before borough council can change any ordinances or adopt new ones.

“We don’t have a timetable at this point,” Strubinger said. “We are continuing to do our due diligence on this matter.”