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#626 (shuck Van Eeckhout <br />Pays 2 <br />scale site evaluation for each lot. Except for sot •1, the <br />testing report indicates potentially buildable lots. <br />My recommendation at this point is that the applicant first <br />submit a site evaluation report showinq that lot 4 has suit- <br />able soils for a drainfield system,. If this is not possible, <br />a lot rearrangement may be zzec:scary. Secondly, the remainder <br />of the testing (4 perc tests, 2 borings per lot) must be sub- <br />mitted. (The preliminary testing satisfies Or.ono's require- <br />ments for at-, "alternate drainfield area". Ref. Orono Design <br />Manual, Part II, Section 3, and Part III, Section :.) <br />Although I indicated to the applicant that the preliminary test- <br />ing would be sufficient to obtain preliminary approval (assum- <br />ing results were satisfactory), this is against_ established <br />policies which have been reinforced by recent applications to <br />the City. During the subdivision prcce,s, in many cases the <br />drainfield site location Bete -mines the number of lots and the <br />house locations, i.e. only a small portion of the proposed lot <br />is suitable for drainfield. If the proposed 'house location <br />decided upon by a prospective buyer encroaches on the tested <br />sites, either the house location must be moved or further test- <br />ing done to find a dif_'erent suitable drainfield site. A review <br />of the building years 1978-1980 indicates that of 26 pre -tested <br />building sites built upon, 6 required further testinu due to <br />house location encroachment on rested drainfield sites. Four <br />others had to make house location adjustments to stay off the <br />only feasible drainfield sites on the lot. Th` remainder were <br />able to make use of the tested sites. <br />The main argument against preliminary testing; is that it is <br />impossible to determine where a prospective buyer may want to <br />locate his house on a lot, hence testing may have to be re- <br />peated. However, for the City to allow creation of !ots with- <br />out proven septic system capabilities can became c,)stlj and <br />in direct opposition to the City's Comprehensive Plan, if <br />numerous lets can't support a system and can't be built upon. <br />Also, if only -partial testing_ is done, and the lots are sold <br />as "already tested", staff my be pressured into issuing per- <br />mits for s7stems with undesirable or inknown soil conditions. <br />To conclude, in my op.nion the requirement to 1,avc. testing <br />done on new subdivisions is valid, since it furthers the pur- <br />poses and policies stated in the City's Corrprehensiv,. Man. <br />This pre -testing of lots has proven to be adnq uate in -4i4 of <br />the lots built upon so far. In this applicati,)n, since soils <br />on certain proposed lots are indeed marginal. for drainfield <br />use, all testing should be completed prior to prelin.Lnary ap- <br />pr teal, since lot lines may have to be rearrancled to include <br />st..t.able sites for drainfield? use. <br />