02-20-1997 Council Minutes Special Meeting

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MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING HELD FEBRUARY 20,1997 ROLL The Orono City Council met on the above date with the following members present: Mayor Gabriel Jabbour, Councilmembers J. Diann Goetten, Barbara Peterson and Richard Flint. Councilmember Charles Kelley was absent. The following represented City staff. City Administrator Ron Moorse, Assistant Planning and Zoning Administrator Michael Gaffron, Planner /Zoning Administrator Liz Van Zomeren, Director of Public Services Greg Gappa, City Attorney Tom Radio and Recorder Lin Vee. City Engineer Shawn Gustafson was also present. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Jabbour at 8:00 a.m. Mayor Jabbour stated this meeting is a continuation of discussion from the February 10, 1997 Council meeting regarding approval of the EAW for the Spring Hill Golf Course. The meeting is to identify any additional environmental issues or concerns that should be included in the EAW as well as to make any changes or corrections to the language in the EAW. Gaffron noted that the EAW process is concurrent with the City's review process for variance and conditional use approvals. Moorse referred to the memo dated February 18, 1997 regarding staff suggestions for potential • changes or additions to the EAW. The applicants noted they were basically in agreement with the memo. Items to be changed were discussed as follows: 1. Big Woods. An area of 43 acres of a big woods remnant is involved in the project. It is relatively close to two other big woods areas. Wolsfeld Woods is approximately 3/8 mile away and Wood Rill is approximately 3/4 mile away. Before and after acreages of the big woods should be included. 50.3% of the big woods will remain with 49.7% being eliminated. A map showing the size of the area and proximity of the golf course compared to the Wolsfeld Woods and Wood Rill areas should also be attached. Goetten questioned moving fairways to leave more of the woods while considering the wetlands. The Gustafson memo refers to mitigating the impact on the big woods and should be considered somewhere in the process. Jabbour did not feel it should be in the EAW as other agencies may think this would happen when, in fact, mitigation may not be possible. Goetten thought including mitigation in the EAW would be appropriate as it is a concern to be addressed. Moorse noted the current EAW makes reference to limiting the impact and language could be added for potential items to consider, including the items noted in Gustafson's memo. is 1