02-16-2010 Planning Commission Packet

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, . � i `r � RECEIVED Ms. Barbara Walther . Ms. Becky Houdek � , Mr. John Smyth ,IAN 18 2010 January 15,2010 CITY OF ORO Page 6 � recently created mitigation basin,MFRA examined and surveyed Mitigation$asins A and B during the 2009 growing season to ensure that the created basin areas meet the proposed wetland mitigation areas. Based on the survey of Mitigation Basins A and B,the applicant created an excess of 12,722 SF of wetland area. Furthermore,the applicant has received complaints regarding the location of Mitigation Basin C in relation to the golf course fairway from it's members. In order to appease it's members,the applicant would like to abandon Mitigation Basin C and utilize a portion of the excess wetland area located at Mitigation Basins A and B in exchange for the area that was proposed at� Mitigation Basin C. Mitigation Basin C would be graded back to the pre-existing elevations, seeded with a turf grass seed mix and maintained as a part of the golf course. After utilizing the 8,755 SF of wetland area as replacement for Mitigation Basin C,the applicant still has an excess of 3,967 SF of wetland credits at Mitigation Basins A and B. The applicant intends to utilize the excess wetland areas previously created for replacement of the 2009 pond expansion project. In addition,the ' applicant provided an excess of upland buffer adjacent to Mitigation Basin B in order to meet the requirements of the City of Orono. Approximately 23,236 SF of excess upland bufFer(above and beyond what the WCA requires)was established adjacent to Mitigation Basin B. In order to meet the wetland replacement requirements for the 2010 wetland pernut application,the applicant wishes to use a portion(25% of 8,184 SF or 2,046 SF) of the excess upland buffer as replacement credits. Attached to tlus report is a spreadsheet that surnnlarizes the wetland mitigation proposed in 2009, created in 2009,the difference between what was proposed and actually created, and what the applicant is proposing as a part of the 2010 wetland pernut application. The applicant will provide on-site wetland mitigation by converting an upland area into a wetland and establishing an upland buffer adjacent to the wetland mitigation basin. Wetland creation is � proposed adjacent to previously created Mitigation Basin B,which is located near delineated Wetland 3 in the western portion of the subject property. The following section provides additional information for the proposed mitigation basin and upland buffer. Miti�ation Basin B Previously created Mitigation Basin B will be expanded by converting 0.16 acres (7,154 SF) of upland into wetland by removing approximately one to two feet of topsoil. Because the WCA only allows wetland credit for 75% of the total upland area converted to wetland,the applicant will receive 0.12 acres (5,366 SF) of wetland credit for the converted area. The proposed wetland mitigation area will exhibit 1 to 2 inches of standing water during the . early portion(ApriUMay) of the growing season giving way to saturated conditions during the remainder of the growing season,which was observed in the recently created Mitigation Basin B during site visits in 2009. The bottom of the mitigation basin will be left rough graded to create an undulating bottom of+/- 0.5 feet.