HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-08-1975 Metro Waste Control Commission Minutes ! •
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� S[�tARIZATION OF MEETING HELD 8 DECEMBER �9 75 AT 1:00 P.M. IN Tf-lE ORONO AI�iINISTRATION
� OFFICES REC,ARDING 'TE� REPORT ENTITLED "EIWIROI�NT ASSESSMFNf-ORONO-LONG I.AI� INTER-
CEPTOR"
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In attendance were Steve Albee and Klaus Forester, Metro Waste Cantrol Co�nnission;
• Rod Leas of National Biocentric, Inc. ; Orono Mayor Robert Searles; Camcilman
� Walter Massengale; Planning Conenission Member, Brad Van Nest; City Administrator,
Walter R. Benson.
� Brad Van Nest began by relating concern for the City's Surface Water Management
� Plan in relation to wells, ponds, swamps and Lake Minnetonka. With the possibility
of the interceptor and its potential for u�banisation of the area it would have a
� impact an the Lake when phosphorus and other pollutants are increased by further
densities.
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� Mr. Albee agreed but stated the MWCC was limited in ftmding and cazmot thoroughly
evaluate an environmental impact.
� Ma.yor Searles defined Orono's perplexity in a situation where zoning authority has
� to rest with the conammity and the corrmainity having adopted a complete Comprehensive
Guide Plan and Land Use Regulations of a rural characteristic find themselvss can-
i fronted with the construction of a se�wer facility made to MWCC specification with
the only option to use it to its full capacity and not a limited:use.
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` Massengale related how an interceptor conflicts with Oro�no's Comprehensive Guide
Plan because of the total urbanization effect in the area it serves which defeats
� four years of professional input into Orono Land Use Plans.
Albee stated "I agree but what can w�e do"
� Forester noted that the Sewer Treatment Plants had to be cleaned up.
• Mag$engale agreed that originally the treatment plants were the target but now not
• only are the treatment plants of major concern but full urbanization is the goal which
will not anly contribute to other forms of pollution but will carry off our good. sur-
� face water.
� Searles noted that there is always slippage in any major proposal which requires
further study and research. One example is the Stubbs Bay area. Originally it was
� praposed to spend $1,000,000 to install sewers, now we have a proposal of $97,000
to acccx�►plish that sm�ne task.
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Ma�sengale felt that the urbanization effect of taking water out of the watershed
and having more impurities of the surface water could upset the balance of the lake
� - it could even cause a drop.
� The MVYCC was asked tvhy Orono could not get the Metro Council to restrict the line witil
the ingredients of the plan would be known. Forrester called attention to previous
• situations faced by the Metro Co�mcil where pipes had been overbuilt too large and
their subsequent desire to use the interceptors to the fullest possible extent. Albee
noted that the MWCC wished tl�y had the powerMand authority to restrict the lines but
S this was in the Metro Council's jurisdiction. Searles expressed his worries about the
� premise of a 35 thausand population using Orono as a basis. Albee felt the basis of
over-design was more favorable but was not sure of future trends. Van Nest called
attentian to the Orono input at the Public Hearings against this and how Metro decided
� to utilize the pipes to the utmost capacity.
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� Mayor Searles asked MWCC that, if they agreed that Lake Minneto�ka is of inetropolitan
sig�ificance, then why talk about policies almost leading to public discrimination
� as to where would be shopping centers, recreational areas, etc. Metro should keep
this area in good shape as a recreatianal asse� to the whole metropolitan area.
Ihmning the line in here for environmental protection could lead to destn.iction of
� a valuable asset. That could be the effect of sizing and placement of urbanizatian
on our area. They have dictated a policy co�ntrary to our goals.
� Searles noted that other communities had restrictions on their line. Why not us?
� They approved our Comprehensive Plan.
• Albee stated that they are told time and time again that Metro has no intention of
infringing an local affairs and that their Policy was drafted to accomodate the
• commmities. Searles indicated that John Boland, who had recently met with the
Mayor, had reaffirmed that lines on the map are com�nunity land use decisions.
� Albee emphasized that the Sewer ServiGe Regions must be legally defined and that
it would be at least next August or later before these will come out. Forester
� noted that the "Service Boundary Area" will require Public Hearings with everyane
concerned and that the Comprehensive Sewer Plan would be utilized. Searles noted
• that Orono's is old and needs updating. Massengale noted that there was a set-up of
five year update on the Comprehensive Se�wer Plari and noted that it is subject to
annual review.
� The Orono representatives expressed their concerns that the specifics in the docwnent
�, could be used in courts and legal pmcedures, in other words, that the courts would
consider it as a overriding-type docwnent.
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Massengale shawed haw Orano is not designating all areas of lakeshore for sewer but
rather two acre tracts using ot�-site septic systems. It was shawn on the zoning ma.�
that extra zo�ing protection had been given to the lakeshore areas by tighter restrictions
• on such things as lakeshore setbacks, hardcover, tree removal, filling and grading, etc.
� MWCC indicated that a ne�w comprehensive sewer plan will hav+e to designate areas served
by on-site septic systems.
� A page by page review of Orano objections concerning the "Environmental Assessment -
� Orono-Lorig Lake Interceptor" was made and a copy of those objections, in sequence
order, are attached as part of these minutes. Both Searles and Ma.ssengale related
that the Crnmcil was corisidering licensing of septic systems, even feeling that a�
on going file shauld be kept on all systems in the area, and that licensing would
• provide the ability to enforce maintenance of the systems.
� Although not part of the list of sequence objections, the following comments were
� made cancerning the project.
� Orono brought out the rationalization that the proposed interceptor would force an
entire area to urbanize for 110 hanes in Medina. It was felt that this should be
• solved by some other method. Orono made note that the City had never granted a va.riance
� of Ordinance 125 and felt that public reaction could be excessive against the project
when constn.tictian crews began devastating the Ferndale Marsh.
Metro indicated that the line would be on the shoulder of the Highway. Orano members
felt that the Highway was "literally" floating on the marsh and so this would still
� constitute an invasion of the wetlands.
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� Another consideration was the hazards of infiltration, breakage, and ma.intenance
� problems associated with a line. Forester felt there would be oaily small incident
� of repair because of the size of the pipe and it being of sealed construction having
anchored down casting and wrapped with plastic outside. The covers would be bolted
down with screw fittings. He felt Orono must realize that the Sewer Board wa$ the
most concerned gmup that this would be a fail-proof system. When questioned about
� access to all the manholes, Forester felt that except for a break they would not
� need a service road along this whole line and present cleaning equipment would
service lines to to 1,000 ft. He called attention that the line would be subject
� to the regulatians on inflaw and infiltration.
� Concerning the size of the pipe, Forester indicated his preference for a 42" line
but stated resizing could be done rapidly. Oversizing w�ould in the long run be a
� benefit to the com�m�nity.
Searles asked if Metro could adopt a Resolutioai stateing the reserve in the pipe
is not for Orano but for continuencies of �own future needs. Albee felt that
this could be done.
� Orono emphasized that policies be pursued to look at potention storm water nmoff
� problems and that MWCC redesign dawn to Orono populatioai projections so that Orono
is given constraints that removal of treatment plants is the prime purpose of the
line and not urbanization or extending lines. Orono felt that the Metro Cowicil
Policy map must be changed to a rural designation in accordance with the Orono
• Comprehensive Land Use Plans and Zoning Codes.
MWCC stated that all they could do is encourage the Metro Cowlcil to give an answer
� on the facts brought out and request them to evaluate all the problems.
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