01-27-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, January 27, 2014 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 22 of 32 (5. #13-3637 WILLI ABBOTT ON BEHALF OF THE BROADWAY GROUP, LLC – 2350 WATERTOWN ROAD AND XXX WILLOW DRIVE NORTH – PRELIMINARY PLAT AND RPUD REZONING, Continued) Abbott asked if there will need to be permanent signage along the edge of the wetland. Abbott stated if that is the case, it will not be such a gray area for the residents. Abbott stated they are attempting to design a consistent neighborhood that will bring value to Orono. McMillan stated the City Council is also desirous of a consistent neighborhood with the setbacks. McMillan asked how engineered the rain gardens are, noting that she would prefer to keep things simple. Marty Campion, Engineer, stated the rain gardens provide water quality and rate control. The rate control would be through a 6-inch outlet pipe. Campion indicated without the pipe outlot, the rain gardens would overtop and it will be difficult to control the discharge. McMillan stated in her view the one rain garden near the cul-de-sac would need to be piped due to the slope. Campion stated the intent is on the upslope side of each of the rain gardens, since there is a curb line that water will then go to the rain garden. Campion pointed out how the area from the house to the street is tributary to the rain garden and noted that only a portion of the street would be tributary to it. Campion indicated all of the rain gardens all relatively equally balanced with the amount of water they will take. McMillan asked if the curb cuts are essential to control the runoff. Campion indicated the curbs just added to the feel of the neighborhood. Abbott commented they were also going with the concept of a public road. McMillan stated unless the development has higher density, the City tends not to require curb and gutter. Campion stated it would not be a typical rural ditch but more of a swale since there is not a lot of distance from the edge of the road to the house. Levang stated she has a concern with the maintenance of a rain garden since they may become nonfunctional over time. McMillan asked if they need to do the rain gardens. Campion indicated they have to do something to meet rain control and that the soils in the area are not real conducive to filtration. The rain gardens help create more of a filtration system and also provide some storage. Campion stated if enough treatment could be achieved through the swales and they are allowed to use the larger wetland as the rate control that would be one option, but that they have to demonstrate treatment before discharging to the wetland. Campion indicated the wetland is large enough to provide rate control but that they have to provide some type of treatment.