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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, December 10, 2007 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />___________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />(#07-3332 PRC Development Company, Continued) <br /> <br />Bremer stated the location of the fence would make a difference in her view. <br /> <br />Rahn asked how high the berm would be. Rahn commented he would rather the fence not be located on <br />top of the berm but rather at the bottom of the berm. <br /> <br />McMillan suggested some plantings be planted along the fence to help break up the visual impact. <br /> <br />Murphy stated further east on County Road 6 there are other examples of board fences that are not very <br />attractive but that he is not objecting to the appearance of this fence. Murphy commented he also would <br />not want to see the fence located on top of the berm. <br /> <br />White stated one of the objectives of the City is to preserve the rural character and natural views of the <br />area and that in his opinion this project will be quite attractive and does achieve those two goals. <br /> <br />McMillan asked about the type of septic system that is being proposed. <br /> <br />Seeland stated there are two options that could be utilized on this site. As proposed, each home would <br />have its own septic tank, which would then go into a sand filter. The drainage fields would be located in <br />the woods. Seeland indicated the majority of the trees on the site would be preserved during the <br />construction of the drain field with the exception of possibly two trees. Another option that could be <br />pursued would be a performance based system utilizing an aerobic pretreatment. The MPCA has <br />indicated such a system produces effluent that is 98 percent clean. Seeland indicated the downside to a <br />performance based system is that it must be maintained annually. In this situation, because there would <br />be a homeowner’s association, in their opinion this type of system would be preferrable, but at the <br />present time it is not in conformance with the City’s code. Seeland stated with the performance based <br />system, the sand filter would be eliminated and that area could then be replanted with trees. <br /> <br />McMillan asked whether the tanks would need to be pumped on a regular basis. <br /> <br />Seeland stated pumping of the tanks on a regular basis is not the problem but that someone would need <br />to come out, inspect the system, and clean it out twice a year, which would be monitored by the <br />homeowners association. Seeland commented the performance based system would also allow them to <br />utilize the “gray” water that is produced by the various residences. <br /> <br />Gaffron noted the City does have a number of systems utilizing aerobic pretreatment {which would <br />make them a performance based system} currently and that the City has not allowed a smaller size drain <br />field with that type of system. Gaffron stated the City monitors the contracts those owners have to <br />maintain the systems. The homeowners association would be one additional guarantee that the system <br />would be maintained, but that there still is the potential that the system would be disrupted by one of the <br />owners. <br /> <br />Moorse noted the County would like to obtain a wider right-of-way at the time of subdivision and that if <br />the City does not grant the wider right-of-way at the time of subdivision, it would assess the City the <br />cost for a wider right-of-way at the time it is needed. <br /> <br />Turner stated if a wider right-of-way is granted, it may result in the loss of one of the sites. <br /> <br />PAGE 6 <br />Item #02 - CC Agenda - 01/14/08 <br />Approval of Council Minutes - 12/10/07 [Page 6 of 17]