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LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MARCH 6, 1990 PAGE. 2 M/S/P Williams/Armstrong - to call. a Special Council meeting for Sunday, March 18 , 1.990 at 8:00 p.m. for the purpose of Ellen Sampson's visit. (Motion carried 4-0). 7. PLANNING/LAND USE/AND ZONING: A. Public Hearing "One Acre" Rule At the February 6, 1990 meeting, the Council called a public hearing to consider amending several sections of the Lake Elmo Municipal Code relating to the "One Acre" rule for drainfields. The present wording does not conform to the wording in the proposed Comprehensive Plan and needs clarification because it requires two standards. Mayor Dunn opened up the Public Hearing at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council chambers. The public Hearing notice was published in the St. Croix Valley Press on February 14, 1990. Mike Mazzara, 1.1259 30th St. N., asked the following questions: This amendment would require 1 contiguous acre for drainfields on all newly subdivided lots rather than require two separate drainfield sites. Williams clarified all lots existing prior to the adoption of this ordinance shall have area sufficient for two separate and distinct drainfield sites verified by soil borings and perculation tests. What about a commercial establishment? Bohrer explained there is almost no limitation on the amount of sewage that might be generated by a commercial establishment. Therefore, the methods of evaluating whether there is area sufficient for the required septic system is slightly different. Why is there a difference? Bohrer: There is no minimum lot size in a PF or a P zoning district. Conceivably, A half -acre of land could qualify for that zoning district. It would not be appropriate to require one acre set aside for a drainfield if you don't even require one acre for the total lot size. Dick Johnson, 8896 Lake Jane Trail, asked the City Engineer what his interpretation of placement of the well would be on a 1 1/2 acre lot. Bohrer: As part of the Preliminary Plat submittal this one acre of land will have to be delineated on each of the lots. For residential property, he would consult the County's soils survey to see if the soils within that one acre delineation are classified as having low to moderate limitations for septic purposes. The well. would have to be at least 50 feet away from that one acre delineation, because the owner would have flexibility to locate his first system any place in that one acre. If it is a 1 1/2 acre lot, the well would have to be on the other half acre and the well would be 50 feet from the acre set aside for a septic system. Mayor Dunn closed the public hearing at 7:44 p.m.