10-15-2018 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,October 15,2018 6:30 o'clock p.m. Thiesse asked how the new Comprehensive Plan relates to this development. Barnhart stated the City is still governed by the 2030 Comprehensive Plan but that the City will be implementing a new Comprehensive Plan in the very near future. Predominantly the changes to land use and density in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan have occurred along Wayzata Boulevard. Included in those changes are a parcel to the east that has potential for development and the Eisinger Flats project to the south of this site,which introduces higher density into that area. Barnhart stated the Planning Commission could make the case for supporting higher density in this area due to those factors but that they could also make the case that each parcel stands on its own and that higher density may or may not make sense for this property. Barnhart stated the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee did not recommend any changes in density to this site. Barnhart stated changing the density for this site is a call the Planning Commission and the City Council should make. Thiesse asked how the City's overall density is doing. Barnhart indicated overall the City is doing pretty good. The most recent amendment was the Kelly Avenue apartment building next to the dentist office. The different letters on the chart identify areas of potential growth. Barnhart stated the key number the Metropolitan Council is concerned with is the overall density. When the Metropolitan Council considers a change to the Comprehensive Plan,they look for a minimum density of three units per acre. After the Kelly Avenue Parkway project,the City is at 3.298 units per acre. If the City did not have those projects,the City would be below the three units per acre. Barnhart indicated he has taken those figures and then added the Mogart property, which proposed development of a 10-acre parcel and expanding the MUSA to include that parcel. The City Council agreed with the Planning Commission's recommendation to expand the MUSA for that parcel at 4.5 units an acre. Also added was the Eisinger Flats project of 192 units, which was not included in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. With those two projects included,the City is at 3.82 units per acre. If neither of those projects are done, it would drop the City's overall density to 3.1 units per acre. With those projects included,the City's density buffer is above three units per acre and allows the City to have some flexibility to expand the MUSA boundary. If the Lake Classen project is not done,the City will still remain at 3.82 units. Landgraver asked what the projected growth in the area is. Barnhart indicated the Metropolitan Council does not mandate the City develop but they do mandate that the City provide the opportunity for development. The Metropolitan Council's projected growth in the Orono area is 541 households between now and 2030 and then another 330 households between 2030 and 2040. Barnhart stated the City is not opening up a lot of new growth areas but that they basically react to what people propose. In the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, Staff has attempted to identify areas where growth is likely to happen. It is typical that quite a bit of the development occurs in the rural areas. Eisinger Meadows, Eisinger Flats have been included as new growth areas. If the Eisinger Flats project is not completed,the City would be at 3.4 units per acre but will be short on opportunities for growth. Erickson asked what the area of the site is.