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 15 of 32 (9. #14-3691 SOURCE LAND CAPITAL, 405 NORTH ARM DRIVE – PRELIMINARY PLAT, Continued) Simenson stated for anyone who drives by the development on the eastern portion, there are a number of Colorado blue spruce trees and red cedar trees. Simenson noted Colorado blue spruce trees were planted in the 1950s and 1960s and that that type of tree does not do well in the Minnesota climate and tend to start to die from the bottom up after 30 years. Simenson noted the red cedar is an aggressive type of tree and that they tend to replant via the birds dropping seeds in the prairie areas. Simenson indicated he would like to remove the majority of those trees to prevent that problem and that they would like some flexibility on the number of trees that can be removed as well as replanted. Simenson stated selective planting of groups of trees would look nicer. McMillan noted there was a good amount of information contained in his report that he has submitted about the native and nonnative trees. McMillan stated the types of trees and plants being proposed for this site are not the kind of things a person would see readily in nurseries but that it fits in with the conservation design that Orono has always inspired to have. Mayor McMillan opened the public hearing at 8:14 p.m. McMillan noted the City Council has had the opportunity to review the minutes from the Planning Commission meeting and that she would encourage the residents to limit their comments to items not raised at the Planning Commission. Donna Hager, 4580 West Branch Road, stated she has a problem with the idea of putting a septic system just 20 feet from her back yard and feet away from her well. Hager stated the proposed septic system is also located in a wetland area that was developed as a result of a green being raised directly behind her house. Hager stated the green was raised with many, many tons of dirt, which created more runoff to her property. Hager reiterated she is not happy to see some mound systems being proposed for behind her property since it will impact her property with runoff. Hager stated the other reason she does not want the septic systems in that location is due to the fact that she only owns one acre. Hager noted the proposed lot consists of 4.5 acres and that it seems like they should be able to find a spot closer to them rather than two blocks away from where the proposed house is going to be. Hager commented she is actually outraged by it and that she believes in neighborliness and would never think of shipping her sewage over to somebody else’s back yard a block or two away. Hager stated in her view it is right and that she is amazed that that would be allowed 20 feet from her property line. Hager noted the septic system would also be located on a slope. The slope creates ravines and crevices and floods her basement and that the situation will likely become worse. Hager noted the septic sites are also located in conservation areas. Hager indicated she spoke this week to the engineer and was informed of the acreage of this other lot and that they could not find another place on 4.5 acres to put the septic system in another spot. Hager indicated she is concerned for health reasons and wildlife reasons and that there are deer that come through her wooded acre. Hager stated in her view this septic system will impact the wildlife because there will be fencing around it. In addition, there are also 25 huge trees, 100 feet tall, which are marked to be cut down so the septic system can be put there. Hager indicated she is also outraged over that. Hager asked what should come first – a septic system, trees, wildlife, the earth, drinking water, her home, her life, her health, or the septic system.