Negotiations between Ed Kanick and Carbon County on a large chunk of land near Mauch Chunk Lake will not impact Jim Thorpe borough’s decision on whether or not it allows on-site septic systems in that zoning district, borough officials said last week.

Kanick had proposed a subdivision that would include nine homes over 60 acres along Lentz Trail and Jim Thorpe is subsequently considering a zoning change that 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.

The zoning change has been met with lofty criticism, however, and last month Kanick offered to sell 45 acres of land to the county. He would retain the last 10 acres.

“Council would still need to decide whether it wants to allow on-lot septic, with those certain restrictions in place, in that area,” Council President Greg Strubinger said. “There are other properties near there besides the tract the Kanicks own. There is a 30-40 acre tract adjacent to that and others that would be impacted as well.”

Councilman Jay Miller said a potential sale of most of Kanick’s property doesn’t change the way he feels.

“You’re either for or against on-lot septic out there,” Miller said. “I’m against it. The county buying part of the land would not impact my vote.”

Kanick said his subdivision plan is an effort to have his family living closer together.

During a January borough meeting, 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.”

Others, including the three-member county commissioners board, have spoken in opposition to the zoning change, citing concerns about pollution to the lake should a septic system that close to the body of the water fail.

“The Carbon County Board of Commissioners regards any proposed modifications to the existing zoning regulations to allow the installation of on-lot sewage systems in closer proximity to Mauch Chunk Lake Park and Mauch Chunk Creek, than is currently allowed, as not only a significant and unnecessary increased threat to the high-quality, water-centric outdoor experience that tens of thousands of residents and visitors experience annually, but as contrary to both the letter and the spirit of the current Middle Carbon County Comprehensive Plan guiding planning and development in Jim Thorpe Borough,” commissioners Wayne Nothstein, Chris Lukasevich and Rocky Ahner wrote in a Nov. 14 letter to the borough.

Strubinger said Jim Thorpe has been doing its due diligence while considering the ordinance change. A draft is still before the borough’s planning commission and council, he said, would not take action before hearing those comments.