FPUD approves payment plan for additional Elder House sewer use

The Fallbrook Public Utility District approved a payment agreement for Faro Trupiano to pay the additional sewer capacity charge for the building known as the Elder House.

FPUD’s 4-0 vote May 27, with Don McDougal recusing himself, will allow Trupiano to make the total $10,517.16 payment in installments for the building at 127 West Elder Street.

“The resolution was to allow Mr. Trupiano to pay the additional fees over time, which is allowed in the Fallbrook administrative code,” said FPUD general manager Brian Brady.

“It’s because of a change of use at that address,” Brady said. “It went from office and retail to restaurant of a certain size.”

Trupiano, who will retain Trupiano’s Italian Bistro in the 900 block of South Main Avenue, will open a new restaurant at the northwest corner of South Main Avenue and Elder Street which will be called 127 West Social House.

“With the change in use it required additional sewer capacity fees, and the board instructed me to work out an agreeable payment plan,” Brady said.

Sewer capacity for the building was originally purchased when the building was classified as a retail business. That classification equates to 1.33 equivalent dwelling units. A restaurant under 2,500 square feet requires 3.0 EDUs to buy into the additional capacity in the sewer system to help fund necessary capital improvements. The additional 1.67 EDUs at the rate of $6,298 per EDU created the $10,517.16 total additional payment.

The County of San Diego provided FPUD with a clearance form for the tenant improvement to the Elder House building, and the additional permit fees must be purchased prior to the signing of the county clearance form. Trupiano sought a variance because the property was a restaurant in the past. The FPUD board first heard the item April 28, when Bert Hayden was absent, and chose not to make a decision until May when all board members could be present.