ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    January 10, 1974
    HRISHIKESK CHODURY,
    Petitioner,
    vs.
    )
    PCB 73—440
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY,
    Respondent.
    OPINION
    AND
    ORDER OF THE BOARD (by Mr. Seaman):
    On October 17, 1973, Petitioner, Hrishikesk Chodury,
    a resident of ~aukegan, Illinois, filed his Petition for
    Variance, requesting relief from Order #7 of League of
    Women Voters v. North Shore Sanitary District, PCB 70-7,
    12, 13 and 14, to allow a future sewer connection to a
    presently unimproved lot located on Woodlawn Avenue (no
    street number indicated) in Gurnee, Lake County, Illinois.
    The proposed connection would be tributary to
    the
    Clavey
    Road sewage treatment plant of the North Shore Sanitary
    District.
    The Board adopted an Order in this matter on
    October 25, 1973, deeming the Petition inadequate and
    requesting that Petitioner provide the cost of the land
    purchased and the reason why satisfactory property could
    not be purchased elsewhere. Petitioner’s reply, received
    on November 20, 1973, indicated that the subject land was
    purchased for $6,000.00, and that the reason Petitioner
    purchased the particular prcperty was that it is close to
    his work and that it is suitable for building immediately
    because electricity, gas and sewer lines are adjacent
    thereto. Petitioner’s situation appears similar to every
    other owner of undeveloped property in the area of the
    sewer ban. In addition, he has not indicated the status
    of his present living conditions nor has he discussed the
    feasibility of other sewage disposal or treatment alternatives.
    From the petition for variance, it is evident that
    construction has not commenced on the proposed dwelling.
    The Board has repeatedly held that mere purchase of property,
    absent other extenuating circumstances, does not constitute
    sufficient arbitrary and unreasonable hardship to justify
    the grant of a variance. (See e.g. Robert Monyek v.
    10—629
    —2—
    Environmental Protection Agency, PCB 71-80; Robert C.
    Wagon v. Environmental Protection Agency, P03 71-85;
    Bruno Feige v. Environmental Protection Agency, PCB 71—192.)
    Further, Petitioner’s attention is directed to
    North Shore Sanitary District v. Environmental Protection
    Agency (PCB 73—134)
    ,
    decided on January 10, 1974, wherein we
    granted the District permission to issue 2,000 permits
    (8000 P.E.) authorizing connection to its Clavey Road Plant,
    subject to certain conditions.
    Petitioner’s cause, therefore, has become moot,
    since the basis of his Petition is that permits for sewer
    connections are unavailable. Petitioner is urged to file
    with the North Shore Sanitary District application for
    permit to connect as soon as possible.
    ~1e note that PCB 73-134 would not foreclose a
    petitioner from requesting a variance to complete connection
    prior to July 1, 1974, based on a showing of hardship and
    urgency, since our Order in PCB 73-134 specifically states
    that connections permitted thereunder shall not be made
    prior to July 1, 1974.
    This Opinion constitutes the findings of fact and
    conclusions of law of the Board.
    ORDER
    IT IS THE ORDER of the Pollution Control Board that
    the Petition for Variance of Hrishikesk Chodury be denied
    without prejudice.
    IT IS SO ORDERED.
    Mr. Henss was not present.
    I, Christan L. Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution
    Control Board, certify that the above Opinion and Order was
    adopted on this
    /
    day of
    ~, -
    ,
    1974 by
    a vote of y
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    630

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