10-08-2001 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2001 • 7. #01 -2702 Brenshell Homes, 3551 Livingston Avenue Renewal Variances — Resolution No. 4700— Continued Gappa stated that 5 acres of land above Cuff s property drain through her yard. The lot in question is 0.15 acres out of 5 acres, so the added run off from that lot would be such a small portion of the total so as not to be noticeable. He stated a ditch had been installed some years ago, but it requires periodic maintenance to be effective, or a pipe could be installed. Mayor Peterson asked Ms. Cuff if she could get support from her neighbors to install a storm sewer system. Cuff stated that her neighborhood is full of starter homes and it would not be cost effective for most of the residents to pay for a storm sewer system. Mayor Peterson asked if the changes she had made worked. Cuff replied they had redone the basement with extra supports, commercial drain tile, a commercial pump system, and two generator back -ups. They had also installed a swale. They have spent a lot of money to protect themselves from flooding. She asked if the small amount of extra run -off from the new house caused flooding on her property, would she have any recourse. She also stated the catch basin is inadequate. Gappa stated the catch basin has no outlet, so in the case of big events, it fills up and runs over. Cuff stated that public water is running through a private drainage system. • Flint stated that the house that was removed from the lot was 740 s.f. The proposed house would be 1,100 s.f. Gaffron stated the lot allows for a 1,500 s.f. structure, or less. In this case, they concluded the drainage was properly directed and the construction would not produce enough additional drainage to have an effect on the neighbors. Cuff again asked if she would have recourse if she were flooded. White responded she would have to show that it was the City's responsibility. Cuff stated the developer had previously offered to construct a holding pond. Behnke stated that the developers made the offer before seeing the numbers on the run -off their construction would produce. He stated a holding pond would not be cost effective for so insignificant an amount of water. He added that the currently vacant lot would have grass and a resident to maintain the yard, which would help slow down run -off. White moved, and Sansevere seconded, to adopt Resolution No. 4700 granting variances to Municipal Zoning Code Section 10.25, Subdivision 6(B) to allow the construction of a new single family residence on a lot of 0.15 acre area and 50' width where a 0.5 area and 100' width are normally required. Vote: Ayes 5, Nays 0. 7