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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br />Monday, April 16, 2018 <br />6:30 o'clock p.m. <br />Barnhart stated with respect to the comments about traffic on Kelley Parkway, the City Engineer and <br />Staff have been working with the school district regarding the traffic and the road layout. Barnhart stated <br />he will see if he can provide additional information on that subject at the City Council meeting. The City <br />Council and the School District does recognize the concerns with traffic backing up on Old Crystal Bay <br />Road and that they are planning longer term solutions to the traffic problems on Old Crystal Bay Road. <br />Libby asked if it is possible to quantify the traffic in the area and compare it to other intersections in the <br />community to see how it compares. <br />Barnhart stated the City could do that but that he is not sure what that would accomplish. Barnhart <br />indicated part of the challenge on Old Crystal Bay Road is the turning movements, which creates more <br />congestion and slower speeds. Hennepin County is also looking at the City to remove driveways off of <br />Wayzata Boulevard. <br />Landgraver commented Staff has done an excellent job reviewing this application and they have <br />identified the ten major issues. Landgraver indicated he is in favor of the project. <br />Thiesse stated he hears the concerns about the traffic but that it is his belief the traffic is being caused <br />more by the school than it is by the development on Kelley. Thiesse noted this is an important piece to all <br />of Orono in meeting the criteria of the Metropolitan Council. <br />Lemke indicated he is in agreement and the project meets the needs of the City. Lemke stated he does <br />have a concern with the two massive buildings next to each other, especially since there is nothing on this <br />lot right now. <br />Thiesse noted there is a vacant lot to the south, which will help to some extent, but that it will be <br />developed at some point. <br />Ressler commented development of that vacant site is inevitable. Ressler stated development of the roads <br />and other things will come along with that development. Ressler stated he agrees a lot of the traffic <br />issues come from Old Crystal Bay Road. <br />Libby stated he is in favor of addressing the shortage of this type of housing and that Orono really does <br />not have any other places to put this. Libby stated he is glad people feel comfortable enough to bring <br />their concerns about the traffic to the City. Libby stated walkability to services is important and helps to <br />reduce the amount of traffic. <br />Erickson stated last week they talked about a plan for the Navarre area and possibly increasing density in <br />that area. Erickson stated if you compare the kind of traffic problems they have in that area to the kind of <br />traffic problems along Wayzata Boulevard, there really is no comparison. Erickson indicated he is very <br />comfortable with both of the projects as it relates to Wayzata Boulevard, which currently has less traffic <br />than it did when it was Highway 12. Erickson stated he is happy to support the project. <br />Erickson moved, Landgraver seconded, to recommend approval of Application No. LA18-000036, <br />Orono Apartments, LLC, John Patch, 2745 Kelley Parkway, granting of a Comprehensive Plan <br />Amendment, a Zoning Amendment to RPUD, and recommending approval of the Master <br />Development Plan subject to Staff recommendations. VOTE: Ayes 6, Nays 0. <br />Page 18 of 21 <br />