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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br />October 16, 2023 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 2 of 11 <br /> <br />he has been there 33 years. He has worked with the Corps of Engineers and the Watershed District to <br />come up with a plan to mitigate the erosion. <br /> <br />Chair Bollis opened the public hearing at 6:07 p.m. <br /> <br />Tom Major, 2200 Devin Lane, said he is the property owner to the south of this property so the ditch <br />flows into his property. They have been there 37 years and had no problem until two to four years ago. <br />Sand has raised the bottom of the ditch a foot or more. He asked if downstream effects of the project have <br />been looked at. He said there is also a flood plain below that next to another property. The ditch is along <br />the property line between the two houses. <br /> <br />Heidi Hust, 2225 Devin Lane, said they have been in the house almost 20 years and the road project up on <br />the corner was a huge disaster. The silt came down and destroyed everything, she said, adding she is a <br />professional gardener and used to take her Girl Scouts down that area and the marsh has changed so much <br />and a delta has formed. They have lost a half a dozen trees due to standing water. It is a deep ditch and <br />has spread out everywhere. More than grass is needed on the side. The DNR should have a list of plants <br />that will stop the erosion. Crawdads and other creatures are gone because of the silt. <br /> <br />Chair Bollis closed the public hearing at 6:13 p.m. <br /> <br />Ressler asked if the DNR is in control of the ditch. <br /> <br />Curtis said the area is not identified as protected so it is a City action and a grading permit is required. <br />Staff does recommend that the applicant remove any material caused by the work done last fall. <br /> <br />McCutcheon said it seems that when there are big road projects there can be adverse reactions and this <br />seems like one of those situations. He said the residents were looking for more information and asked if <br />details could be posted for the public. <br /> <br />Curtis said that is done with road projects but this is a private improvement. The City would not be <br />responsible, but would make sure erosion control measurers were not removed until the plan is executed <br />and vegetation installed. <br /> <br />Bollis pointed out the application has the review of the City Engineer and several other agencies. <br /> <br />Ressler noted the applicant has submitted a plan that includes everything that staff is recommending. It <br />would be better to leave this in the hands of the engineers, he said. <br /> <br />Libby said he is in support of the staff recommendations but is grateful for the extra information supplied <br />by the applicant and the neighbors. He said the Planning Commission does not have the engineering <br />expertise but that this will be reviewed by the experts. There is significant expertise involved in this. <br /> <br />Tom Major said the Commission has been mainly talking about the project. He questioned what would <br />happen downstream. He asked who is responsible for maintaining the ditch. <br /> <br />Curtis said staff is recommending any sediment that is a result of the work last fall is the responsibility of <br />the applicant to remove with permission of the adjacent property owners to enter their property. She said