04/19/2004 Planning Commission Minutes

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2004 6:00 o'clock p.m. (9. #04-3003 BRUCE AND KRIS PADDOCK AND GEORGE W. STICKNEY, 3250 FOX STREET, PRELIMINARY SUBDIVISION—Continued) Chair Mabusth directed attention to the several Issues for Consideration. Gundlach explained the issue of requiring septic sites on the street side of the proposed house pads came about through the EAW process. Leslie asked the applicant to clarify their concern over using the street side septic systems, as they had been identified for use on the six (6)-lot proposal. Mr. Stickney responded numerous great septic sites are on the property but they do not want to be limited to a choice of sites when all septic sites identified meet septic guidelines. Leslie further asked if the applicants had any specific concerns with the septic fields identified on the street side. Mr. Stickney replied there were none. Chair Mabusth asked the applicant if the septic sites near the street are appropriate for conventional systems. Mr. Stickney stated there were two on Lot 2. Gaffron interjected that the recommendation of Matt Bolterman, Orono's On-Site Systems Manager, to use septic sites furthest from Lake Minnetonka should be used as a guideline and not as a condition because all proposed septic sites do meet state standards. Replying to a question from Mrs. Maass, Gronberg stated that no retaining walls are envisioned on Lot 3. He explained that the majority of surface water run-off on Lot 3 will be going towards the Maass property but because of the proposed diversion, the overall amount is less. Chair Mabusth directed attention to the issue of the use of the existing driveway on Lot 3. It was a consensus this issue had already been discussed. Kempf interjected that he would like to talk about the topic of driveways, and at his site visit, observed long driveways, over 800', through the pristine wooded properties. He recommended using only one curb cut on Fox Street and one driveway running in for 400' along the lot line, then splitting at a point further in. It would reduce the amount of pavement/hardcover and disturbance to the area is less, only one curb cut on Fox Street; it would require the owners to cooperate on driveway maintenance. Berg responded that such a driveway design creates a bigger issue for neighbor cooperation, including association issues, and it still has a long driveway. She believed a driveway weaving around the property is workable on a small plan such as this, and there are also police and fire response issues, too. Page 42 of 49