02-27-1979 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

� , � Page 19 3. Floodplain According to a r.ecently completed study commissioned by the _ Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for purposes of the f ederal flood insurance program, the site is located in a . floodplain and in a sheet flow area from the unnamed tributary coming from Lake Classen. Approximately half of the site is located in the 100 year floodplain with .the other half located in the 500 year floodplain. The practical result of the fact that the property is located in the floodplain is that the property would be subject to the stan- dards in the State Floodplain Zoning Act which has been incorporated in Orono's Floodplain Zoning Ordinance. While under the state standards, residential and commercial developments may be allowed in the flood fringe as a conditional use, the proposed uses would � be subjected to certain standards related to flood-proofing of the structures and the sanitary sewer systems. For example, the basement or first floor of the structures must be located above the flood protection elevation and no new waste treatment facilities � are permitted in the floodplain unless there are emergency plans and procedures to be taken in the event of flooding which must be filed with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. If the structure is built or sewer systems provided in violation of the state . standards, it could affect the ability of the property owner to obtain federally backed property insurance as well as lead to pollution problems. Thus, the fact that the site is located in the floodplain and a sheet flow area places some severe limitations on the type of structures as well as private sewer systems located on the site. Most likely, it would require filling of portions of the land (which requires a permit from the Department of Natural Resources), no basement would be allowed and a sealed septic tank or holding tank as recommended by the city's environmental planner would also_ be required. � 4. Summar - � In summary, because of the soil types (some of which are sandy soils) , the generally high water ta61e (1 or 2 ft. ) , and the fact that the area is located in a floodplain and sheet flow area from the unnamed tributary, there are some severe envirionmental limita- tions to any type of urban development. Any proposed development in the area would be subject to the floodplain standards in Orono's Floodplain Zoning Ordinance and any filling in the area would require a permit from the DNR. As has been indicated by Mr. Michael Gaffron, environmental planner for the city, the only practical solution to a waste disposal system appears to be a sealed holding tank which wou7d have to be pumped out on a periodic basis. However, allowing a holding tank on this site should be weighed in relation to the _ precedent it might establish for similar requests in other floodplain areas of the city. -3-