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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, June 8, 2020 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 13 of 21 <br /> <br />Walsh stated the City Council had an application similar to this approximately a year ago, although the <br />Applicant did not move forward on it yet, where half was in the Municipal Urban Service Area (MUSA) <br />and the other half was not. The City took the strategic conclusion at that point, because it was on a hill <br />and so close to the lake, that it made more sense to chew up a little bit of the City’s flexibility with the <br />MUSA number to make sure things like that are on the MUSA. The site is surrounded by wetlands. The <br />City put together the impact on the MUSA, and it was pretty negligible because it is very small in terms <br />of the number. Even if things were switched, it would still be at 4.3-4.5. He said if the City is going to use <br />the flexibility in the number, this item would be the time to do that. <br /> <br />Printup said an email was received saying to stick to the septic and stick to what everybody else had. He <br />is wondering if that had something to do with the fear of density coming in. <br /> <br />Johnson noted in the Planning Commission meeting it was a fear of change. The people that surround the <br />property have gotten used to having nothing back there. <br /> <br />Seals and Printup noted that happens quite often and is very normal. <br /> <br />Johnson said one of the abutting properties tried to get hooked up to the City sewer and got turned down. <br />He thought there was pushback from some of the surrounding neighbors wanting screenage, etc. It is a <br />conforming subdivision and the Council does not get to dictate their screenage for something within code. <br /> <br />Printup stated that often something like that is playing a part. He asked if there would be any type of <br />unintended consequences of increased numbers tapping into the sewer line. <br /> <br />Barnhart stated there could be, although he could not say. He thinks the bigger issue would be if the City <br />expanded the MUSA and changed the density. <br /> <br />Several Council members indicated that would not happen. <br /> <br />Barnhart noted that was one of the main issues when the project came up because it is a very nice, pristine <br />rural area. <br /> <br />Printup said the reason there is septic in certain areas and large lots is to keep the densities down; it is a <br />tool in the tool box. If a sewer is coming into the area, it is not a scary monster. <br /> <br />Johnson noted the sewer easement is already running through this property. <br /> <br />John Quinlivan, 5159 Main Street, ob/o Gordon James, said he appreciates the Council’s time. He stated <br />they are emphatically not asking for more density, nor are they asking to plop in more homes. There are a <br />couple of things that drove this. There are steep slopes that surround the entire property, and when the <br />septic designer was out there, he said it was a nightmare trying to figure it out. <br /> <br />Walsh indicated Mr. Quinlivan had called him, and Walsh told him to bring it to the Council if there was <br />a situation. <br /> <br />Mr. Quinlivan said Rusty, who does a lot of work in the City, told him he could make it work but there <br />are so many Type 1 wetlands. He said he believes the density is a scary issue to people. He stated the <br />other issue is the homes on the right are worried about privacy. Bringing in sewer allows them to move