Project Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

#626 Chuck Van Eeckhout Page 2 scale site evaluation for each lot. Except for lot 4, the testing report indicates potentially buildable lots. My re.:ommendation at this point is that the applicant first submit a site evaluation report showing that lot 4 has suit- able soils for a drainfield system. If this is riot possible, a lot rearrangement may be necessary. Secondly, the remainder of the testing (4 perc tests, 2 borings per lot) must be sub- mitted. (The preliminary testing satisfies Orono's require- ments for an "alternate drainfield area". Ref. Orono Design Manual, Part II, Section 3, and Part III, Section I.) Although I indicated to the applicant that the preliminary test- ing would be sufficient to obtain preliminary approval (assum- ing results were satisfactory), '.As is against established policies which have been reinforced by recent applications to the City. During the subdivision process, in many cases the drainfield site location determines the number of lots and the house locations, i.e. only a small portion of the proposed lot is suitable for drainfield. If the proposed house location,, decided upon by a prospective buyer encroaches on the te.etAft sites, either the house location must be moved or further test- ing done to fi._d s diFferent suitable drainfield site. A rr,iew of the building years 1978-1980 indicates that of 26 pre -tested building sites built upon, 6 required further testing due to house location encroachment on tested drainfield sites. Four others had to make house location adjustments to stay off the only feasible drainfield sites on the lot. The remainder wer� able to make use of the tested sites. The main argument against preliminary testing is that it is impossible to determine where a prospective buyer may want to locate his house on a lot, hence testing may have to be re- peated. However, foi the City to allow creation of lots with- out proven septic system capabilities can become costly and in direct opposition to the City's Comprehensive Plan, if numerous lots can't supp,)rt a system and can't be built upon. Also, if only partial testing is clone, and the lots are sold. as "already tested", staff my be pressured into issuing per- mits for systems with undesirable or unknown soil conditions. To conclude, in my opinion the requi-.ment to have testing done on new subdivisions is valid, nce it furthers the pur- poses and policies stated in the CiLy's Comprehensive Plan. This pre -testing of lots has proven to be adequate in 3/4 of the lots built upon so far. In this application, since soils on certain proposed lot:- are indeed marginal for drainfield use, all testing should be completed prior to preliminary ap- proval, since lot lines may have to be rearranged to include suitable sites for drainfield use.