Laserfiche WebLink
ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />MINUTES FOR MARCH 8,1999 <br />MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORT- Continued <br />Jabbour said he is concerned about the granting of an easement between property owners <br />when the City has not approved the easement. He described a recent incident where a house in <br />Orono is being marketed as having riparian rights. The City has taken a position twice tiiat the <br />house is nonriparian. It is Jabbour’s understanding that two property owners have given each <br />other an easement independent of the City. The easement is to obtain a dock on one of the <br />property owner’s land. Jabbour saw a title opinion guaranteeing the riparian rights on the <br />property that is for sale. <br />Gafifron said the easement came to his attention today and he sent a letter to the title company <br />explaining the City’s position that the property does not have lakeshore access. <br />Jabbour said the City has adopted an ordinance which says that docks are an accessory <br />structure and if there is no primary structure, there cannot be an accessory structure. He is <br />concerned because property values increase when a lot has riparian access and this easement is <br />in conflict with the City’s ordinance. <br />Jabbour said he has talked with the MPCA about the changes in rules regarding septic <br />systems. <br />Gaffron said that Steve Weckman has been doing a good job of keeping track of the changes <br />in the rules. <br />Jabbour said he does not feel that the Council has been briefed on the changes in the rules <br />regarding septic systems. He said that any system installed prior to April 1,1996, is required <br />to have a two-foot separation, not a three-foot separation. There have been changes in <br />technology and there are new options available. There is a proposal to allow a one-foot <br />separation. He is concerned that homeowners are being pushed to replace systems that do not <br />meet the three-foot separation. <br />Gafiron said that when the two-foot separation rule was passed in 1996, Steve Weckman <br />advised him there were only a small number of existing systems in Orono that would have <br />avoided replacement due to this code change. <br />Kelley said he is concerned about homeowners who changed their systems, used the last <br />avail^le location on their property for a septic system, and then the system fails. <br />Jabbour said the MPCA told him the City can allow non-conforming systems for any length of <br />time, that MPCA rules do not establish a repair timeframe. <br />Page 2