Under the moratorium, development would be paused in the Royal River sewershed area, indicated by the light and dark blue areas of the map. (Courtesy of the town of Yarmouth)

The Yarmouth Town Council unanimously approved a six-month development moratorium on certain areas Thursday night that will give the town time to upgrade its sewage treatment system to handle anticipated growth.

The council also approved a $7.5 million question for the November ballot, when town residents will be asked to fund the design and replacement of the Royal River Pump Station, which is running at capacity and has caused recent system overflows.

The 180-day moratorium will take effect Sept. 5 and apply to 1,225 parcels across a wide swath of town west of Route 1, Yarmouth officials said Friday. The moratorium likely will be extended a few times before a new sewage pump station is completed, which is expected to take about three years.

The pump station, located behind Rowe Elementary School and beside Royal River Park, was built in 1967 and last upgraded in 1992. It’s now constantly close to or at capacity as the town’s population has grown, said town engineer Steve Johnson.

Residents have raised concerns about the fairness and flexibility of the moratorium and the potential for lost taxes and fees on delayed development. Developers have said planning and construction delays will increase costs. Town officials have taken steps to minimize the impact of a project they say is absolutely necessary.

Heavy rain and snow melt in January 2024 overwhelmed the pump station and caused untreated sewage to flow into the river, said Town Council Chair Karin Orenstein.

“This is a system not made for today’s community or for the growth that’s expected,” Orenstein said. “This is a public health crisis that we can’t ignore.”

The sewage pumps inside the Royal River Pump Station, which the town says is operating at capacity. (Courtesy of the town of Yarmouth)

The moratorium will apply to about 20% of the town’s land area and will pause any future construction that would increase the amount of sewage flowing into the system, including detached dwelling units, expansions that add bedrooms, and commercial development.

However, the council amended the moratorium slightly so it may be adjusted for special circumstances and creative solutions that would allow projects to go forward without impacting the sewage treatment system.

Projects allowed to go ahead might include a first-floor bedroom addition for an elderly resident who is no longer able to climb stairs, Orenstein said. Developers of larger projects have proposed work-arounds such as installing temporary septic systems or holding tanks.

“It provides some flexibility for the council to amend the moratorium throughout the duration of the (project) and allows for creativity as developments are proposed,” said Town Manager Scott LaFlamme.

The Royal River Pump Station is one of about 30 stations in the system and about two-thirds of the town’s sewage flows through it. In January 2024, the station’s flow limit was notably exceeded and raw sewage flowed into the Royal River, prompting a 21-day shellfish harvesting closure and environmental and public health concerns.

The town is also upgrading the Harbor Pump Station, the largest station, which was also built in 1967 and 75% of Yarmouth’s sewage flows through it. That $7 million project was approved last November and is underway.

If voters approve the bond referendum for the Royal River Pump Station in November, the new station would begin operating in early 2028.