03-24-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, March 24, 2014 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 7 of 24 (5. #13-3638 SOURCE LAND CAPITAL – 405 NORTH ARM DRIVE – LAKEVIEW GOLF COURSE PROPERTY – CONTINUED SKETCH PLAN, Continued) Hiller indicated they are asking for some leeway in the PRD application in order to make sure each lot is within a valid septic zone and due to the necessity to have 52 lots in order to make the economics work on the development. Hiller stated in his view the current plan represents a good balance between the various design constraints found on the site. Hiller noted there are 40 to 50-foot elevation changes throughout the site, and in an effort to minimize the grading impact on the site, a design layout was arrived at to accommodate those areas. Hiller stated the Council did ask that the cu-de-sacs be eliminated as much as possible. Hiller stated they did look at alternate designs without the cul-de-sacs but those layouts did not work as well and they arrived at the design that is being proposed tonight. Elimination of the cul-de-sacs resulted in the elimination of the two natural corridors in the middle of the site, which is contrary to the conservation design principles and narrow, deep lots. Hiller stated in their view that was not as nice of a layout and they ended up abandoning that concept. Hiller stated as it relates to city water, they did meet with City Staff from Orono and Minnetrista to discuss the feasibility of using Minnetrista city water for the site. All parties agreed the city water would be a good solution if the water rates could be kept at a level that worked for both cities and still represented a good value for the consumer. Hiller noted pipe maintenance responsibilities would need to be worked out. Under this concept, the City of Minnetrista would sell water to Orono at a yet to be determined rate. Orono Staff would then need to work out how much the City could then sell the water to the consumer for in order for the overall feasibility to be determined. Hiller stated if those details can be worked out, they will likely be providing city water for this site. Hiller stated they also have met with the Watershed District on a couple of occasions to discuss restoration of the site and regulatory requirements. A preliminary stormwater management plan has been submitted for their review. Hiller stated it appeared at the most recent meeting that the project is on the right track to meet the regulatory requirements. A discussion was also had with the Watershed District about the possibility of adding an additional holding pond in the northwest corner of the site to capture offsite stormwater coming in from the north. Hiller stated they have received feedback recently on qualified contractors and cost estimates on the site restoration. The general idea of the vision for the areas of the conservation easements is an herbicide would be applied to the sod, which would then be tilled under, and various prairie grasses would be planted. In the first three years, a very strict management plan would be implemented and followed for maintaining the vegetation. Hiller displayed an example of what the conservation easements would likely look like in the first year. Levang noted the only thing they are proposing being located in the conservation areas are septic sites. Levang asked whether pools would be located in those. Hiller stated they do not envision pools and sheds in those areas. McMillan commented mound septic systems have been constructed in conservation easements in other cities, such as the Cloverdale Farms. McMillan stated with a mound system, very little activity can occur in those areas. McMillan asked if they are proposing mound septic systems.