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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br />Monday, April 16, 2018 <br />6:30 o'clock p.m. <br />Weber indicated that would be handled in the lease arrangement and the bigger cities tend to have <br />housing codes. <br />Libby stated cities do use their housing authority to regulate that and that most real estate agents tend to <br />abide by those. Libby stated the Minneapolis Housing Authority allows up to five unrelated people, and <br />if they were blood family members, then it was a different rule. Libby stated unless there were <br />complaints, it was a rare occasion that the Housing Authority did anything to enforce that. <br />Barnhart noted Orono does not have a housing authority. <br />Kanive stated the Stonebay development is not completed and that there are a number of other <br />townhomes that will go in there at some point. Once that happens, they will be adding more onto Kelley <br />Parkway than what is already there. Kanive stated she sees the need for the apartment building but that <br />she is not sure if the location is adequate enough for it. <br />Mike Licht, 2670 Kelley Parkway, stated he is familiar with some of the people involved in the two <br />projects currently under consideration. Licht stated from sitting in the audience, it seems that the City has <br />taken commercially zoned property piece by piece and turned it into residential property. Licht stated in <br />his view both projects will be good from a construction standpoint but that it seems the City is somewhat <br />setting a precedent for one of the bigger pieces that are left to become a residential piece of property as <br />well. Licht stated in the long-term, the piece on the corner could very conceivably be in front of the <br />Planning Commission for an even bigger building. <br />Licht stated when they are increasing the traffic on Kelley Parkway and the density of the property as <br />opposed to commercially zoned parcels, the City should also be thinking about the infrastructure that is <br />needed and not just focus on the project itself. Licht stated it is already difficult to get in and out of there <br />right now and that they will be adding more units this year and again at some point in the future. <br />Thiesse stated it is his understanding traffic counts and infrastructure were anticipated for this area and <br />that what they have learned from other projects is that residential creates less traffic than commercial. <br />Landgraver stated to his knowledge the traffic studies didn't take into account the school expansion and <br />the left turn prohibition onto Old Crystal Bay Road. Landgraver noted this area has two feeders within <br />150 feet of each other, which are contributing to the traffic problems. <br />Thiesse stated until the school starts handling their traffic better, there will be problems. <br />John Hovanec, 2670 Kelley Parkway, stated it looks to be a terrific building but that he is concerned <br />about Kelley Parkway. Kelley Parkway is currently a two-lane roadway, there are emergency vehicles <br />periodically, and students and parents using the road as a major thorough way. Hovanec stated he also <br />sees lots of kids on the paths. Hovanec stated safety is a great concern of his, and while he knows <br />Hennepin County is attempting to limit entry onto Wayzata Boulevard and the road from Willow Drive <br />west is a project for next year, it might be worth looking at moving some of that traffic from Kelley <br />Parkway back onto Wayzata Boulevard to make it safer and better for everybody. <br />Chair Thiesse closed the public hearing at 8:35 p.m. <br />Page 17 of 21 <br />