09-23-1996 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1996 ( #12 - Request for Sewer - Continued) Goetten asked who created the vacant lot. Gaffron reported that the City approved it in • 1987. Goetten said she then had no question regarding this issue since the City deemed it as a buildable lot, the applicant should not be asked to combine the two lots. With the upcoming availability of sewer to the area and with the additional cost born by the applicant to bring the sewer across the street to his property, Goetten recommended that this option be considered. Hurr said she disagreed noting the sewer line has to end somewhere. Hurr said the City did not create the problem and the applicant had the option for an alternate site on the vacant lot, the experimental mound system, or the rearrangement of the lot lines. Maresh said the present system is failing, and the new codes have created a problem with the high water table and ponding requirements in the ordinance. Maresh said the lot was originally a tree farm and has an intense growth of trees. He noted that S -P Testing found depths shallower than 12" outside the intense tree growth area. SMI Testing had tested in the midst of the forest area where the septic would not be desirable. Maresh said Steve Weckman also took several borings which were less than 12 ". He also asked Weckman to take borings on the sites tested by S -P and very few met the requirement. In the dense forest area, there was found to be only 6" separation. An alternate, less dense site, also did not meet the requirement. Maresh continued that he was informed that the experimental mound might not work and would be more costly with the need to double the amount of sand. If that system failed and have to be rebuilt, there would be even more expense involved. He noted that sewering was more expensive but would be of a permanent nature, one that would not have to be repeated. He also noted that he did not purchase the vacant lot at the same time as the homestead lot and should not be required to combine the two lots to gain a septic site. In reviewing the vacant lot, Maresh said there was a dense forest area in the portion of the lot off of CoRd 6 across from the Trinity Lutheran Church. He said the south side of the lot was not adequate as it was used for drainage and wet in nature. A house site for the vacant lot is to the south side and had only two septic sites available without invading the tree forest. He added that the experimental mound system would come back to haunt him if required. Jabbour asked if the sewer unit could be considered as an extension of the MUSA line. Gaffron said it would have to be an addition through a future amendment once the 50 units were reached. Jabbour said he was sympathetic to the problem of the applicant but recognized the other 600 non - conforming septics within the City. He was concerned with the additional costs involved and opening the door to other residents asking for sewer. Jabbour voiced concern with the affordability factor also. •