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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, September 21, 2020 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ system, the City of Orono has benefitted from a 2-acre comprehensive plan and yes, there are some provisions that afford combinations for smaller sites. She thinks she just heard them say it does meet all of the requirements, but she believes this plan doesn’t actually meet the 50 foot setback and that it doesn’t meet the setback on the North side. Ms. Curtis clarified it is a 30 foot setback from County Road 19. Ms. Johnson also has a concern around the watershed, noting the McKinney development and six homes North of the corner, a peak with elevation, and all of that land drains into a creek which runs into Ms. Johnson’s backyard, and then heads South toward the backside of 350 North Arm and ultimately drains in the space between 4780 and 4760, running into a huge culvert that goes under North Arm and creates the river/creek that runs into Lakeview Lake. Ms. Johnson noted there is so much water in the spring, it appears to be a rushing creek, and the backside of 4780 has significant water drainage in a flood plain all spring and she wants to make sure the Minnehaha Watershed has reviewed the owners plan. She asked regarding the new septic system, will the City be setting precedence to allow .5-acre property owners to have a new septic system that doesn’t have a mound and doesn’t have the requirements under 780200 A and B? She also understands the new septic system must be pumped every fifty days and asked how that will be handled by the owner. Chair Ressler asked to address the questions one at a time. Ms. Johnson asked about the new septic system, as her understanding is everyone who lives in Orono must have a mound. Ms. Curtis answered everyone in Orono doesn’t have to have a mound, but they must have a compliant system, and there are different types of systems. She noted this is a system that requires a maintenance plan, as it isn’t a standard trench or mound system, but has a maintenance component over and above one of those systems. She stated it is an acceptable system and the Building Official has approved the system. Ms. Johnson asked if there are any others like it in the City. Ms. Curtis replied she doesn’t know. Chair Ressler believes there is soil testing to see how fast the water percolates. Ms. Curtis said they’ve done the testing on the site and this is the type of system that has been designed to work and is acceptable. Libby said any design that is done must be by a licensed, credentialed, Minnesota Department of Health design engineer. Ms. Johnson noted many surrounding areas have a mound and have had to update their mound systems at great expense to meet City requirements, and she asked if this will create precedence so other homeowners can look into this system that takes up less space and may be more suitable. Ms. Curtis said it is, but this isn’t the desired system, it’s not cheaper or better, it is more intensive, requires a higher level of maintenance, and isn’t something most homeowners would want. She noted a mound system is one step up from a trench system because there isn’t a separation, noting homeowners aren’t required to have a mound, but are required to meet the standard.