05-18-2015 Planning Commission Packet

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City of Orono- Conservation Design Check List for Mooney Lake Preserve 1. Development Steps Th� purpose and intent of this conservation design is to meet the goals of the City's Environmental Pzotection and Natural Resource Management as specified in the Community Management Plan (CMP). In general, these goals pertain to water quality, wetland pmtection, and preservation and the enhancement of the "nu�a1 character" of the City. Emphasis is also placed on the preservation of open spaces in Orono. These open areas include but are not limited to woodlands, wetlands and wildlife habitat. Additionally, the Orono Zoning Code further describes the intent of the conservation design as to reinforce and establish ecological connections throughout the City and preserve snd improve the aesthetic views of Orono. Subcategories that are listed within the Environmental Protection section of the CMP help to detail more specific individual goals and guidelines which can be related to the overall goals listed above. Pertinent to this project, the subcategories emphasize developmen# densities, which require no less than two acres per one home. This reguiation is enforced in order to maintain the historic identity and character of Orono. Low density developments will assist with the preservation of open spaces and, from a sewer and water systems standpoint, will protect Mooney Lake and potentially other surrounding surface waters. It is also emphasized that the primary method of sewage treatment and disposal within the rural area will be individual on-site systems. Tl�e site is located an 80.72 acres with eleven large lots proposed. To preserve the open, rtuat character, these eleven lots range in size from 2.73 acres up to 7.46 acres. Homes and driveway alignments will be situated such that concentrated stands of significant trees will be avoided, resulting in ttte least amount of tree removaL Four parcels are located in forested areas while the remaining seven parcels are in non-treed areas. Onsite sewer systems are proposed to be located in open areas when possible while meeting the required setbacks to surface waters. The general iandscape of the site is undulating with rolling hills, providing a wide variety af habitats that include grasslands, mesic prairies, restared prairies, and areas forested with both invasive species as well as Maple-Basswood deciduous forests. Also present onsite are thirteen delineated wetiands, most af which are type 2 fresh (wet) meadows, but a floodplain forest and a shallow/deep marsh are also present onsite. Bordering the site to the northeast is Mooney Lake. The trees present consist of native tree species, along with a mixture of invasive and ornamental species throughout the site.