10-27-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, October 27, 2014 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 14 of 32 (9. #14-3691 SOURCE LAND CAPITAL, 405 NORTH ARM DRIVE – PRELIMINARY PLAT, Continued) Majkrzak indicated the park space would be jointly owned in a 501.C3, with the site controlled by the Lakeview Homeowners Association and the Victoria Estates Homeowners Association. The site will be open to the public but privately owned and maintained by the private homeowners associations. Majkrzak stated the citizens group has commissioned a landscape design by Dale Gustafson. Source Land supports the concept and feels it would be a very good use of the space. The park would consist of 4.5 acres and would predominantly be a passive park concept consisting of walking trails, benches and historic monuments. The trails will connect to both Lakeview Parkway and to North Arm Drive. Majkrzak noted while the concept drawing did show a few parking spots, there will be no parking spaces in the proposal and it would be a walk-up only park. Majkrzak stated Source Land understands the concerns related to the conservation easement documents. The goal is to have the documents very clear on the concept and philosophy of the conservation areas and would allow only limited access to those areas. The homeowners association will have oversight of these areas and markers will be clearly displayed on each lot at each corner. Majkrzak indicated the signage will be permanent. As it relates to the trees, there are just under 25,000 total inches of existing trees. 4,400 inches are required to be removed as part of the grading of the streets and driveways. In addition, Source Land would like the ability to remove some of the invasive trees that are not compatible with the ecosystem that Source Land is attempting to create on this site. Majkrzak stated in his view there is a lot of agreement among the parties that a tree every 40 feet is not ideal for this development. Majkrzak stated in their view Source Land is making a substantial investment in the restoration of this site and the privately owned public park space and that they would request some flexibility on replanting of the trees. Majkrzak indicated they would like to go with the recommendation of Prairie Restorations. Mark Simenson, Prairie Restorations, stated this is one of the few times that they are invited in to create a prairie. The conservation easement area on this site flows very well for this type of restoration and creates wildlife corridors and frames the lots. Simenson stated there are four basic prairie types included on this site: mixed grass, tall grass, tall wet areas that are closer to the wetlands, savannah areas, and then a small area that is short dry prairie grass. Simenson noted the other parts consist of woodlands, which have a large amount of buckthorn and invasive species in it. Simenson stated in their view the best way to handle it is to remove the buckthorn, the honeysuckle and the other invasive species, and then letting the natives come back in as well as adding native species over time. Simenson stated the restoration will be a long-term deal. Simenson stated the other part of the restoration would include right-of-way brushing or selective cutting. Simenson stated he knows from past work with the City of Orono that there have been some issues with that, and that if you go to the eastern portion where there are some existing chain link fencing and split rail fences, 90 percent of the vegetation is buckthorn or invasive species. Simenson stated the nice aspen trees and things like that will be retained but that in his view the majority should be removed, which would improve views into the site and create some great panoramic vistas.