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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,September 17,2007 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> (#07-3316 Marc Ashton with John Terrance Homes,Continued) <br /> provides all of the rate control and water quality control for this site. Gaffron stated rain gardens have not <br /> been mentioned in other previous applications and that he questions whether they are necessary in this <br /> case and what value they would add to the site. <br /> Mohagen stated they are willing to construct rain gardens if they are required. <br /> Turner noted the rain gardens are proposed to be five to seven feet deep,which Staff does not feel would <br /> be attractive. <br /> Zullo inquired where the water is being directed to from the parking lot. <br /> Mohagen stated the water is being diverted into piping and would go into the storm water pond.Mohagen <br /> stated they would like to hear the comments of the City Engineer on the rain gardens. <br /> Swenson stated Mn/DOT is pushing the rain gardens for better onsite water control and that in smaller <br /> rain storms the water would not go into the rain gardens but would go directly into piping. The rain <br /> gardens also help reduce the runoff into the storm water pond. Swenson noted the ponds would likely be <br /> dry the majority of the time. <br /> Gaffron inquired about the maintenance of the rain gardens. <br /> Swenson stated maintenance of rain gardens is still a relatively new field but that the maj ority of the <br /> sediment would be captured before it goes into the rain garden. <br /> Mohagen stated the rain gardens are a technical issue that could be resolved between their engineer and <br /> the City's engineer. Mohagen noted the rain gardens are a recommendation of Mn/DOT and not of the <br /> City and would not be resolved by any discussion on that issue tonight. <br /> Gaffron indicated as the parlcing stalls get closer to code,one of the places that would be impacted is the <br /> southeast parldng lot buffer along Willow. Gaffron stated on the Otten lot there is approximately 22 feet <br /> of green space between the parking lot and the curb,which narrows down to 18 feet near the entrance. In <br /> the front,there is approximately 40 feet of green space,which is rather substantial and was required by <br /> Mn/DOT. The McDonald's site contains approximately 38 feet of green space from the shoulder line and <br /> parlang stalls. Gaffron noted the plan does exceed the 25 percent the City requires for green space and <br /> that he would like to leave the buffer areas intact as much as possible. <br /> Mohagen stated they would be willing to reduce the green space between the parking lots. <br /> Gaffron stated in prior plans for the southeast corner of the property they have seen a landscape feature <br /> that was intended to be the entrance into the Stone Bay complex,which is not part of this plan. <br /> Mohagen stated if they do not have a rain garden in the middle,they would propose a sidewalk and then . <br /> move the seating area in between the two buildings. <br /> Berg stated she concurs with Mr. Gaffron and that she would like to see some more green space on that <br /> corner of Willow and less parldng. <br /> , <br /> PAGE 14 <br />