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' NIINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMIVIISSION MEETING <br /> Mooday,May 18,2015 � <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. �� <br /> �� <br /> ent�re site,the Environ.mental Assess�men.t Worksheet allowed that section of the Big Woods to be "����'� <br /> segmented by fairways. � <br /> Gaffron indicated that area was a significantly larger area of Big Woods th�this site. One component of <br /> Big Woods is the fact that the dense canopy and height level of the trees restricts undergcowth. Gaffron <br /> stated the Spring HiII develapment has changed the nature of tt�e Big Woods in thai area.as well as <br /> change ti�e wildlife in the area due to the corridors that were created through the Big Woods. Gafl'ron <br /> stated there are schools of t�ought that feel it is very detrimental to segment Big Woods and that it is <br /> something for an environmentalist to make a recommendation on. <br /> Gaf&oa stated in genera],when you look at areas of the City that have been developed,the City has asked <br /> developeis to preserve wooded areas. Gaffron indicabed this sibe is uniqua because it has wooded area.s as <br /> well as en established prairie. The px�airie on this sitie was probably Big Woods at some point in the past <br /> but was established as prairie at some point. Gaffron statcd the prairie visually has some significance to <br /> the public, snd that as someone enters from the west into Orono,it is the first big open field thcy see. <br /> Gaffron stated other ti�an what is in 1fie Conservation Design Analysis process,tbe City does not have any <br /> specific requirements prevanting removai of woods outside of 75 fcet of the lake. <br /> Gearge Stickney,BPS Properries,stated back in 2007,when he Iast approached the City,he said the <br /> Graham Hill property was the last best property in Orono,but that this development will be even better. <br /> Stickney stated every attempt bias been made to preserve the trees in this area and t�at his tree <br /> preservation plan is more severe than anybody else's. <br /> In addition,there is 1,832 feet of lakeshore with only seven lake lots. Sticlmey stated it is likely t�at any <br /> o�er developer would try to squeeze in a couple more lake lots,but that his livelihood is selling real <br /> estate and making the developments above average. Stickney indicated the averag�e]akeshore for each lot <br /> is 262 feet and the average dxy buildable is 3.06 a.cres and not 2-acre lots. <br /> Sticlmey stated there will also be an�utlot C, which wiil be a preserve area. Stickney stated in his view <br /> it is important to limit the amount of hard surface on individual lots,which is the reason for the tree <br /> preservation. <br /> Sticla�ey indicated the strcet will be lighted. Stickney stated they have performed some soil borings in the <br /> f rst 800 feet of the road and that ifiere is fotur to five and a helf inches of graval. Stickney stated he is <br /> hoping to preserve more trees along the roadway and that the lowest width is 9.5 feet,with the average <br /> bemg around 20 feet. Stickney stated if the City requires a 24-foot roadway, it can}�e 24 feet wide on the <br /> rest of the road. <br /> Stickney stated with the help of 5taff,they have found the exact place for�e cul-d�sac. Sticl�ey <br /> painted out the location of the cul-de-sac on the overhead. Stickney indicated there are�ve trees in that <br /> area that wi11 need to be removed. The cul-de-sac is elso 325 feet away from the northem boundary of <br /> Madina so it is not visually apparent As a result of the cul-de-sac,three trees will be lost. There will <br /> also be a min�imal amount of tree loss associated with constructed of the house. <br /> Stickney stated he is con�sidering homes that will be 9,000 or 10,000 square fect. Stickney indicated <br /> somebody can wind through thc trees with a nice ciurcular driveway. Given the layout of the development, <br /> Page 11 of 37 <br />