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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Tuesday,January 21,2020 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Oakden said she is not sure of the size of the line but thought Mr.Mueller was referring to the service line <br /> that is connected to the main line. <br /> Mr.Mueller stated he was referring to the service line and thought it was a four-inch line. <br /> Libby noted he was referring to the one just serving the Mueller property. <br /> Mr.Mueller agreed and said the applicant's house is serviced through the back also. <br /> Libby stated it was municipal sewer and asked if it was a pressurized line or a gravity line. <br /> Oakden and Barnhart believed it was a gravity line. <br /> Mr. Mueller said he thought it was a gravity line and they lined the main part of it this summer. He <br /> indicated the City still has to have access to the manhole. <br /> Erickson asked if it was the hookup the Muellers were concerned about. <br /> Mr. Mueller indicated it was. He said the sewer goes through the middle of the applicant's property, and <br /> his line goes to his property and then goes across. It was a different owner before and nothing was said <br /> because the other driveway was there and nobody was planning on doing anything back there at that time. <br /> Barnhart stated he thought it was a valid concern from the neighbor in terms of impact to the service line <br /> and Staff could provide additional information for the Council moving forward. His understanding is the <br /> service line goes through another person's property,connects to the sanitary sewer,and is not protected by <br /> an easement. The property owners would need to work together to protect the sewer line. He noted the <br /> question in front of the Commission is,is it appropriate to grant a variance from the lot size requirements <br /> to allow for an access easement to the back. Whether the Commission denies or approves it,there still can <br /> be hardcover over the portion of the property that the neighbors are concerned about. <br /> Erickson asked if there was anything the City could offer when the driveway is constructed and inspected <br /> as far as amount of gravel or insulation,et cetera. <br /> Barnhart said it is worth noting the neighbors have a concern about their service line. The City Engineer <br /> indicated the service line is a normal depth; it's eight-ten feet deep. Staff can share the concerns with the <br /> City Council and the applicant and incorporate those as part of a resolution of approval if that is the <br /> direction of the Council. It is a private improvement and an agreement from an easement standpoint <br /> between two private properties which the City doesn't normally involve itself in. The City provided the <br /> sewer line through the area so the City will likely help as much as it can, but it is not really a City issue. <br /> McCutcheon stated the core issue is the two-acre minimum and the lot is getting smaller than two acres <br /> with the change. <br /> Oakden indicated the lot is currently smaller and the applicant is asking for it to be a little smaller per the <br /> City definition and zoning code. The actual lot size won't change,they're not asking to move property <br /> lines,but the driveway easement cannot be counted as part of the lot area per the City's definition. <br /> Page 4 of 14 <br />