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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, December 14, 2009 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> Page 11 of 17 <br /> <br />(9. #09-3435 LOREN AND STACEY SCHOENZEIT, 4480 FOREST LAKE LANDING, <br />Continued) <br /> <br />Schoenzeit stated they have worked hard to design a home that will fit within the existing building <br />envelope, comply with the City’s requirements, and would complement the neighborhood. Schoenzeit <br />asked if the granting of an easement is necessary in order to gain approval of the application. Schoenzeit <br />pointed out if the geothermal wells are put in the lake yard, it would require a longer trench and add to the <br />costs of the project. <br /> <br />Schoenzeit stated they would also like to construct some retaining walls in the area where the ground <br />drops to help with erosion and drainage. <br /> <br />McMillan asked if the ground drops toward the house. <br /> <br />Schoenzeit stated it does drop toward the house and that they currently experience water in their garage as <br />a result. They have relocated the garage to the other side to help alleviate the runoff issues. <br /> <br />If the easement is granted, it would handicap their use of the back yard or lake side yard, and they are <br />asking if the City would allow them to utilize the first 15 feet of the right-of-way for the location of the <br />geothermal wells. The City Engineer has indicated he is not aware of the final plans for Forest Lake <br />Landing, which is delaying the decision on whether the proposed location of the geothermal wells is <br />acceptable. <br /> <br />Mattick stated when the City approves a subdivision, the Council can request easements and other <br />conditions be met. Given the fact that this is a variance, the City has less authority to request an easement <br />and cannot mandate that the easement be given. The applicant has raised some concerns regarding the <br />location of the easement and how that impacts the location of the house. Mattick noted the placement of <br />the geothermal wells would be an encroachment on the easement and not a vacation of a portion of the <br />right-of-way. <br /> <br />White noted this is a difficult site to work with and that he would concur that the closer the geothermal <br />wells are located to the road, the cheaper the project would be. White stated he is not opposed to the <br />geothermal wells. <br /> <br />McMillan asked whether any portion of the geothermal wells would be located above ground. <br /> <br />Kellogg stated to his understanding there would not be. Kellogg pointed out the edge of the existing <br />bituminous paving and the right-of-way, which is a total of 30 feet of right-of-way. Kellogg stated he <br />does have a concern with the geothermal wells being put in that area given the uncertainty regarding <br />future plans for Forest lake Landing. There currently are drainage and runoff issues with that portion of <br />the road. There is no other location for utilities outside of the City’s right-of-way. If the wells are located <br />in that area, that would prohibit the placement of those utilities. Kellogg noted he has not seen an <br />alternative plan for the location of the geothermal wells. <br /> <br />Schoenzeit noted there would be 10 geothermal wells spaced approximately 10 feet apart and the wells <br />are approximately 200 feet deep. <br /> <br />Kellogg concurred that there likely would be an additional cost if they are located on the lake side. <br /> <br /> <br />Item #02 - CC Agenda - 01/11/2010 <br />Approval of Council Minutes 12/14/09 [Page 11 of 17]