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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNIl�IG COMIVIISSION MEETIl�TG <br /> Monday,May 18,2015 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> entire site,the Environmental Assessment Worksheex allowed that section of the Big Woods to be <br /> segmented by fairways. <br /> Gat�'ron indicabed that area was a siguficantly larger area of Big Woods than this site. One companant of <br /> Big Woods is the fact that the dense canopy and height level of the trees restricts tindergrowth. Gat�'ron <br /> stated the Spring HiII developmeni has changed tho nature of the Big Woods sn that area as well as <br /> change the wiIdlife in the azea due to the corridors that were created through the Big Woods. Gaffron <br /> stated there are schoo�s of thought that feel it is very detrimental to segment Big Woods and that it is <br /> something far an enviranmentalist to maJce a rect�mmendation on. <br /> Gaffron stated in general,when you look at areas of the City that have been developed,the City has asked <br /> developors to preserve wooded areas. Ga$'ron indicated this site is unique because it has wooded ar�as as <br /> wetl as an established prairie. Tho prairie on this site was probably Big Woods ar some point in the past <br /> but was established as prairie at same point, Gaffron stated the prairie visuaIly has some significance to <br /> thc public,and that as someone enters from the west into Orono,it is the first big open field thcy see. <br /> Gai�'ron stated other than what is in the Conservation Desi�Analysis process,the City doas not have any <br /> specific requirements preventing removal of woods autside of 75 feet of the lake. <br /> Gearge Stickney,BPS Properties,stated back in 2007,when he last approached the City,he said the <br /> Graham Hill praperty was the last bost property in Orono,but that this development will be even betbar. <br /> Stickney stated every atbempt has been made to preserve the tree.s in this area and that his tree <br /> preservation plan is more severe than anybody else's. <br /> In addition,there is 1,832 feet of lekeshore with only seven lake lots. Sticlmey stated it is li�coly that any <br /> other developer would try to sqneeze in a couple more lake lots,but that his livclihood is seLling real <br /> estate and making the developments above average. Sticlrney indicated the average laicoshore for each lot <br /> is 262 feet and the average dry buildable is 3.06 acres and nat 2-acre lots. <br /> Sticlmay stated there will also be an Outlot C,which will be a preserve area. Sticlmey stated in his view <br /> it is importent to limit the amount of hard surface on individual Iots,which is the reason for the tree <br /> preservation. <br /> Stickney indicated the street will be lighted. Sticlmey stated they have performed some soil borings ia the <br /> first 800 feet of the road and that thera is four to five and a half inches of gravel. Stickney stated he is <br /> hoping to preserve more trees along the roadway and that the lowest width is 9.5 feet,with the averaga <br /> being around 2U feet. Srickney stated if the City reqtiires a 24foot roadway, it can be 24 feet wide on tb.e <br /> rast of tt►e road. <br /> Stickney stated with tha help of Staff,they have found tha oxact place for the cul-de-sac. Stickney <br /> poiu�.ted out the locstion of dte cul-de-sa�c on the overhead. Stickney indicated there are five trees in that <br /> area that will need to be removed. The cul-de-sac is also 325 feet away from the northern boundary of <br /> Medina so it is not visually apparent. As a iresult of the cul-dc-sac,three trees will be lost. There will <br /> also be a minimal amount of tree loss associated with constructed of the house. <br /> Sticlrney stated he is considering homes that wil!be 9,000 or 10,000 square fa�t. Stickney indicated <br /> samebody can wind t�►rough the t�r�cs with a nice circular driveway. Given the layout of ti�e development, <br /> Page 11 of�7 <br />