Lake Auburn 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

 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.

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 341-070 Boothby Street 4 $ 283,400.00

Totals 63 $ 4,026,400.00

EconValue $ 63,911/acre Yearly property TAX $76, 501.60 (2011)

 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.

 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 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.

POSITIVES NEGATIVES
 INCREASED PUBLIC  INCREASED
AWARENESS OF TRAFFIC
THE WATERSHED  INCREASED
 EDUCATOION OF POTENTIAL FOR
THE PUBLIC CONFLICTS
 HEALTH BENEFITS  LAW
TO USERS ENFORCEMENT
 GAIN OF
VIEWSHEDS & FUN!

POSITIVES NEGATIVES
 REDUCES  ANOTHER
POLLUTANT ACCOUNTING
DISCHARGES TO PROGRAM
GROUND SURFACE  MISUSE OF FUNDS IF
 ALLOWS UPGRADES NOT MONITORED
OF STRUGGLING  NEED FOR PROGRAM
SEPTIC SYSTEMS OVERSIGHT
 REDUCES HEALTH
RISKS TO NEARBY
PROPERTY OWNERS

POSITIVES NEGATIVES
 MORE PARCELS  POTENTIAL
WILL BECOME DEVELOPMENT ON
“BUILDABLE” SENSITIVE LOTS
 TODAY’S  CONFLICTS
TECHNOLOGY IS BETWEEN
MUCH IMPROVED DEVELOPMENT
 DEVELOP AND
GUIDANCE BASED ENVIRONMENTAL
ON EXPERTISE PROTECTION

POSITIVES NEGATIVES
 BETTER  PROPERTY OWNER
DEVELOPMENT PAYS FOR MORE
PRACTICES STRINGENT RULES
 ENVIRONMENTALLY  BUILDING DELAYS
FRIENDLY  LOSS OF
 BETTER CONTROL VIEWSHEDS
OF RUNOFF

POSITIVES NEGATIVES
 REDUCES  MAY PLACE
PHOSPHORUS LIMITATIONS ON
DISCHARGES TO CURRENTLY
LAKE DEVELOPED LOTS
 ALLIGNS AUBURN  HOW DO YOU
WITH STATE ENFORCE IT (I.E.
STANDARDS FERTILIZER USE)
 COST TO PROPERTY
OWNER

POSITIVES NEGATIVES
 INFORMES  COST
RESIDENTS  REQUIRES A
 SELF COORDINATOR
IMPLEMENTING  RECURRENT
PROGRAM TRAINING AND
 ENGAGING RESIDENT
STUDENTS ATTRITION

POSITIVES NEGATIVES

 UNEXPECTED COST
 REDUCE DISCHARGES
 AFFECT TIMING OF
FROM FAILING SYSTEMS PROPERTY SALES
 OBTAIN EXPERT OPINION  NEED TO DEVELOP
 HOMEOWNER OR BUYER INSPECTION CRITERIA
HAS THE MEANS TO PAY  LICENSING OF
INSPECTORS
FOR THE REPAIRS OR
 WHY SEPTIC ONLY? (I.E.
REPLACEMENT SYSTEM NOT LAND USE,
EROSION)
 WHAT IS THE RIGHT
REMEDY?

1. NEW APPROPRIATE RECREATIONAL USES
2. 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
ORDINANCE
6. DEVELOP AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
7. INSPECTIONS OF SUBSURFACE
WASTEWATER DISPOSAL FIELDS AT
TRANSFER OF PROPERTY

 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.

 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.

Lake Auburn Watershed

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