An 87 home subdivision that would use a new to Eagleville type of sewage treatment system is in the planning stages for the hills and valley between Cheatham Springs and Allisona roads.

Developer Bobby Turner says he expects the subdivision, Eagle Crest Section III, to progress in about four phases with 15 to 20 homes in each phase.

"I don’t know how many years it will take to get the total done," he said.

The city planning commission approved the preliminary plat for the subdivision on Feb. 5. The plat calls for servicing the homes with a decentralized wastewater treatment facility often referred to as a STEP system.

STEP stands for sewage treatment effluent pump. The term refers to the type of pump that would be installed at each home to send the liquid part of the wastewater to a treatment plant located on the subdivision property. The solids in the wastewater would be collected in a 1,500 gallon septic tank at each home.

Turner would be responsible for building the STEP system according to the Consolidated Utility District (CUD) of Rutherford County’s standards and giving it to the CUD. Once the CUD approves and accepts the system, the utility district would own, operate and maintain it.

The cost per lot to build a STEP system is averaging about $3,500 to $4,000, David Jones, wastewater manager for the CUD, said.

"That would include the sewer collection system, construction of the recirculating sand filter treatment system and all its associated equipment, the drip irrigation field and fencing, pretty much a turnkey job," Jones said.

The STEP system will accommodate subdivision development in stages, Jones said.

"It is designed so you don’t have to operate all the equipment," he said. "You can phase it in as development progresses."

Homeowners in a subdivision that uses a STEP system would pay a monthly bill that would be added onto the water bill. Currently the monthly sewer charge is $27.

The STEP system in Eagle Crest III would be the first multi-user sewage treatment system of its kind in Eagleville. Most of the homes and businesses in Eagleville are serviced by individual conventional septic tanks.

Turner said one reason he is going to a STEP system for Eagle Crest III is because not all of the soil in the 83-acre proposed development is suitable for conventional septic tanks.

"That’s the advantage of the recirculating sand filter and drip fields," Larry McElroy, general manager of CUD, said. "If a person has a pocket of good soil it lets them build houses on lots that don’t have good soil and then send the wastewater to the good soils."

Another reason for going the STEP system route is there would be less impact on the site, Turner said.

"This way you don’t have to tear down as many trees and you don’t have to disturb the land as much either," he said.

The CUD has been working with Turner and his engineers on the sewer system design proposed for Eagle Crest III.

"We are usually involved from the beginning of any STEP system," McElroy said. "We review the system plans and make suggestions on the construction plans. We also look at the hydraulics of the water system to see if we can provide service to it."

Turner has already applied to the state for a permit for the STEP system for the subdivision.

The new subdivision will have lots ranging in size from about 1/3 up to 2 acres. Because of the hilly terrain, most lots will be in sight of the Eagleville School, Turner said.

Subdivision restrictions will call for brick homes that are at least 1600 square feet in size with concrete drives and brick mailboxes.

The subdivision will have five streets that are all named for birds, including Proud Eagle, Nutcracker Court, Redwing Drive, Goshawk Court and Falcon Crest Drive.

According to the proposed plat, the lots in the subdivision will not border on Cheatham Springs or Allisona roads but Turner said the subdivision would have access to both roads.

Turner said he is now working on the roads, water and electrical portions of the development.

"So within the next few months people should be able to see some progress," he said.