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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,April 17,2017 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Rule. A buffer is a no-touch area surrounding the delineated wetland. Additions to existing homes, <br /> accessory structures and buildings, etc.,do not trigger the Wetland Protection Rule and therefore the <br /> Watershed District does not require a buffer if one was not already established. <br /> The City has established a 10-foot setback from the buffer or 35 feet from the wetland edge,whichever is <br /> greater. This setback is intended to protect water quality and to separate manmade improvements from <br /> the natural features of the land. The ten feet is intended to prevent structures placed in such a way that <br /> impacts the no-touch characteristics of the buffer and allows property owners to walk or move equipment <br /> between a structure and the buffer. <br /> With respect to buffers,there are three primary options: <br /> Option 1: Recognizing that the Watershed District's focus is regional and the City's is smaller, retain the <br /> existing setback requirements. Make no changes to buffers. <br /> Option 2: Recognizing the City's role in water quality protection,yet balance the need for use of land, <br /> reduce the setback to 22 feet where no buffer is required or has been established. 22 feet is <br /> nine and one half feet more than the shortest possible buffer required by the Watershed District <br /> for residential properties. Plus,22 feet is a memorable setback, less likely to be lost in the <br /> mind of the applicant,to the benefit of protecting the wetland. <br /> Option 3: Completely defer buffer requirements to the Watershed District and remove the requirement of <br /> a setback from undeclared buffers and the additional ten feet from declared buffers. <br /> Staff does not recommend eliminating setbacks from wetland edges as this would allow an improvement <br /> at the wetland boundary,offering no protection to the wetland,or the improvement due to wetland bounce <br /> and poor soil conditions. Staff can support a reduction in the setback,which balances the goals of water <br /> quality and use of the property. <br /> Written comments have been received and are included in the Commission's packet. <br /> Page 55 of 72 <br />