THE STATE OF THE WATERSHED

Lake Auburn, MaineNew residential development ordinances(From the City of Auburn Comprehensive Plan)

Lake Auburn Watershed Neighborhood Associationwww.auburnwatershed.org IRS 501c3

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.

A Look at Just 9 New Homes

Year Built

Property ID#

Street/Road Acres

Assessed Value 2011

2007 365-031 Maple Hill Road 10 $ 744,100.00

2007 389-039 Maple Hill Road 2 $ 310,500.00

2005 389-039-001 Maple Hill Road 4 $ 503,800.00

2008 363-034 North Auburn Rd

18 $ 499,000.00

2007 363-033 North Auburn Rd

6 $ 514,500.00

2005 387-039 Skillings Cnr Rd 2 $ 279,800.00

2009 411-015-001 Skillings Cnr Rd 3 $ 253,800.00

2008 363-035-002 North Auburn Rd

14 $ 637,500.00

2006

Totals

EconValue

341-070

$ 63,911/acre

Boothby Street

Yearly property

4

63

TAX

$ 283,400.00

$ 4,026,400.00

$76, 501.60 (2011)

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.

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.

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 NEW STRATEGIES INFLUENCING THE PROTECTION of the LAKE AUBURN WATERSHED

(from the 2010 Comp. Plan)

Recreation/Multi-Use Trails

#1. DEVELOP APPROPRIATE RECREATIONAL USES A.1.0

POSITIVES INCREASED PUBLIC

AWARENESS OF THE WATERSHED

EDUCATOION OF THE PUBLIC

HEALTH BENEFITS TO USERS

GAIN OF VIEWSHEDS & FUN!

NEGATIVES INCREASED

TRAFFIC INCREASED

POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICTS

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Failing Septic Systems

#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

The Wrong Stuff

#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

Patio/Garage LID Site

#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

Agricultural Manure Spreading

#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

Responsible Property Owners

#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

See No Evil

#7. INSPECT WASTEWATER DISPOSAL FIELDS AT TRANSFER

OF PROPERTY A.1.2.hPOSITIVES

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?

Sharing Lake Auburn

In Review, the 7 NEW Strategies Endorsed by the City of Auburn

1. NEW APPROPRIATE RECREATIONAL USES2. DEVELOPMENT OF A SUBSURFACE WASTEWATER

DISPOSAL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT LOAN PROGRAM

3. ESTABLISH A TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR WASTE WATER SYSTEMS

4. LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT (LID)5. UPDATE CITY’S PHOSPHORUS CONTROL

ORDINANCE6. DEVELOP AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM7. INSPECTIONS OF SUBSURFACE WASTEWATER

DISPOSAL FIELDS AT TRANSFER OF PROPERTY

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.

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.

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