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THE STATE OF THE Watershed

THE STATE OF THE Watershed. Lake Auburn, Maine New residential development ordinances (From the City of Auburn Comprehensive Plan) Lake Auburn Watershed Neighborhood Association www.auburnwatershed.org IRS 501c3. Today’s Development.

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THE STATE OF THE Watershed

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  1. THE STATE OF THE Watershed Lake Auburn, Maine New residential development ordinances (From the City of Auburn Comprehensive Plan) Lake Auburn Watershed Neighborhood Association www.auburnwatershed.org IRS 501c3

  2. Today’s Development • Under current City ordinances and zoning many homes have been built in the Lake Auburn watershed with oversight from the City of Auburn and water quality regulators. • A WIN, WIN, WIN opportunity exists to balance current economic development needs with the necessary environmental mitigation required to maintain the communities waiver of filtration & ultimately keep the low cost of public water.

  3. A Look at Just 9 New Homes

  4. Other Considerations from the Road Show • Additional revenues of $76,501 from the new homes depicted above could very well be a new gain in city revenues every five years. Also, an immediate savings of 15-20K per year from ending the value adjustments granted to unbuildable lots. • Residential development may not be the most desirable land use but Maine has just been classified as the most rural/urban state. • WE NEED high end tax payers who invest in our community, here is where they prefer to live. • In this case if the Urban Impact cost per dwelling is $150,000 in valuation, the dwellings above this value make the argument for needed city accountability in watershed development.

  5. So What’s The Problem? • A 36 inch septic ordinance cannot be changed by itself. The state Drinking Water Program has said a decrease in watershed protection may void the community’s waiver of filtration. • The state soil scientist has written numerous memos indicating the current ordinance is old, counterproductive and needs to be updated to prevent polluting re-charge aquifer soils. • The City of Auburn is granting “value adjustments” to watershed properties not meeting the 36 inch criteria at a cost of thousands of dollars a year and this exemption is growing.

  6. The Solution: • The members of the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee have endorsed a Technical Review Committee (TRC) to be made up of experts to review the septic ordinance. • By work shopping ALL 7 new ideas, and addressing the old septic ordinance together (as a bundle ) a city consultant can insure the end result is a NET GAIN IN WATERSHED PROTECTION. • City communication to the State will insure watershed compliance is maintained. The LAWPC Commissioner’s will hail the added protection.

  7. 7 NEW STRATEGIES INFLUENCING THE PROTECTION of the LAKE AUBURN WATERSHED (from the 2010 Comp. Plan)

  8. Recreation/Multi-Use Trails

  9. #1. DEVELOP APPROPRIATE RECREATIONAL USES A.1.0 POSITIVES • INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESSOF THE WATERSHED • EDUCATOION OF THE PUBLIC • HEALTH BENEFITS TO USERS • GAIN OF VIEWSHEDS & FUN! NEGATIVES • INCREASED TRAFFIC • INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICTS • LAW ENFORCEMENT

  10. Failing Septic Systems

  11. #2. DEVELOP A SUBSURFACE WASTEWATER DISPOSAL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT LOAN PROGRAM A.1.2.b POSITIVES • REDUCES POLLUTANT DISCHARGES TO GROUND SURFACE • ALLOWS UPGRADES OF STRUGGLING SEPTIC SYSTEMS • REDUCES HEALTH RISKS TO NEARBY PROPERTY OWNERS NEGATIVES • ANOTHER ACCOUNTING PROGRAM • MISUSE OF FUNDS IF NOT MONITORED • NEED FOR PROGRAM OVERSIGHT

  12. The Wrong Stuff

  13. #3. ESTABLISH A TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR WASTE WATER SYSTEMS A.1.2.c POSITIVES • MORE PARCELS WILL BECOME “BUILDABLE” • TODAY’S TECHNOLOGY IS MUCH IMPROVED • DEVELOP GUIDANCE BASED ON EXPERTISE NEGATIVES • POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ON SENSITIVE LOTS • CONFLICTS BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

  14. Patio/Garage LID Site

  15. #4. LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT (LID) A.2.2.b POSITIVES • BETTER DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES • ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY • BETTER CONTROL OF RUNOFF NEGATIVES • PROPERTY OWNER PAYS FOR MORE STRINGENT RULES • BUILDING DELAYS • LOSS OF VIEWSHEDS

  16. Agricultural Manure Spreading

  17. #5. UPDATE CITY’S PHOSPHORUS CONTROL ORDINANCE A.2.2.c POSITIVES • REDUCES PHOSPHORUS DISCHARGES TO LAKE • ALLIGNS AUBURN WITH STATE STANDARDS NEGATIVES • MAY PLACE LIMITATIONS ON CURRENTLY DEVELOPED LOTS • HOW DO YOU ENFORCE IT (I.E. FERTILIZER USE) • COST TO PROPERTY OWNER

  18. Responsible Property Owners

  19. #6. DEVELOP AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM A.1.2.g POSITIVES • INFORMES RESIDENTS • SELF IMPLEMENTING PROGRAM • ENGAGING STUDENTS NEGATIVES • COST • REQUIRES A COORDINATOR • RECURRENT TRAINING AND RESIDENT ATTRITION

  20. See No Evil

  21. #7. INSPECT WASTEWATER DISPOSAL FIELDS AT TRANSFER OF PROPERTY A.1.2.h POSITIVES • REDUCE DISCHARGES FROM FAILING SYSTEMS • OBTAIN EXPERT OPINION • HOMEOWNER OR BUYER HAS THE MEANS TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENT SYSTEM NEGATIVES • UNEXPECTED COST • AFFECT TIMING OF PROPERTY SALES • NEED TO DEVELOP INSPECTION CRITERIA • LICENSING OF INSPECTORS • WHY SEPTIC ONLY? (I.E. NOT LAND USE, EROSION) • WHAT IS THE RIGHT REMEDY?

  22. Sharing Lake Auburn

  23. In Review, the 7 NEW Strategies Endorsed by the City of Auburn • NEW APPROPRIATE RECREATIONAL USES • DEVELOPMENT OF A SUBSURFACE WASTEWATER DISPOSAL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT LOAN PROGRAM • ESTABLISH A TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR WASTE WATER SYSTEMS • LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT (LID) • UPDATE CITY’S PHOSPHORUS CONTROL ORDINANCE • DEVELOP AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM • INSPECTIONS OF SUBSURFACE WASTEWATER DISPOSAL FIELDS AT TRANSFER OF PROPERTY

  24. A WIN – WIN - WIN • The Auburn Water District and the Lewiston Water Division are concerned about the cost of any additional filtration for their rate payers. Updating the Auburn ordinances will bring additional science based standards to the development criteria. • The City of Auburn will gain economic development & assessment opportunities. • Watershed property owners will have a fair chance to expand or develop their properties.

  25. Moving Forward (COA) • Continue to appoint new members of the Auburn Water District that support the cities fair and science driven development criteria. • City planning staff will need to develop a scope for consulting services and put it out to bid. • Budget for a consultant (already considered last year by the city manager) and make this item a priority. • Insure that the data takes into consideration what is in the best interest of the City of Auburn, sharing the Lake is the future.

  26. Questions?...Comments?Please forward them to dan@auburnwatershed.org

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