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 21 of 32 (9. #14-3691 SOURCE LAND CAPITAL, 405 NORTH ARM DRIVE – PRELIMINARY PLAT, Continued) Mark Simenson stated the area will end up being more of a complement to what is on the rest of the site and that the trees will be planted in little pockets. Simenson indicated they will be putting in oaks, iron woods, and maples, and they will be working with the neighborhood on the views and vistas. Levang asked how visible the trail will be from North Arm. Majkrzak stated given the elevation, it will be very visible. Majkrzak stated one item that has not been discussed is the mercury on the site and that it is a fairly significant issue. Majkrzak indicated they are currently testing to find the hot spots and that in total there will be like 400 and some core samples taken. Majkrzak stated they expect to find the same as what they saw at Red Oak, which will require the greens to be excavated anywhere from 12 to 24 inches. Majkrzak stated from the greens they sometimes have to go out 16 to 20 feet. Majkrzak noted mercury tends to sit in a certain spot. Even though the product has not been used for 20 years, it has not moved much. Majkrzak stated the fencing is being put up to protect the septic systems, but the first mobilization will be to get the mercury out. Majkrzak stated they initially hoped they would be able to remove the mercury this fall, which will likely not happen, and that the current plan is to clean up the mercury in the spring. Majkrzak stated there will be a period of time where they are removing that soil and then there will probably be a month or so while the site is deemed to be clean. Majkrak stated by midsummer they hope to start development work but that in his view it will not be any sooner than that. Majkrzak stated had it not been for the environmental issue with the mercury, they could have been more flexible with some of the fencing, but that they need to excavate the greens. Hager stated the stakes that say septic go onto the green behind her house. Majkrzak stated there may be some confusion about the metal stakes and that they are denoting the perimeter of the site. Hager stated the wood stake is located in the green. Olson stated he will check on that this week. Zach Cizek indicated it could be an offset stake. McMillan stated there will be some cleanup on the site of the mercury, which will create more of a disturbance given the fact that there are 18 greens, but that the positive is that the mercury will be removed. McMillan stated in her view in the long term this site will be greatly improved given the prairie restorations that will be done. McMillan stated this is a unique situation and is what Orono aspires to. McMillan noted the developer has made a commitment to create this new ecosystem and the fact that the developer is willing to go through all that expense and do this work is wonderful. McMillan noted there will be a lot of disturbance in the beginning but that in the long-term the project will be very good for the City.