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Last year, the city council reviewed the environmental protection plan (EPP) section of the 2030 <br />comprehensive plan, parts of which are incorporated into the 2040 comprehensive plan draft. There is a <br />description of Orono as a "rural oasis." (p. 3A-13, EPP). There is also language about the need to protect <br />the wetlands, not only for their character, but also their role as wildlife habitat and for their filtration <br />function as pollution control (removing phosphorus, etc.). There are remarks about how urbanization <br />directly and disproportionately adds decreased water quality and to eutrophication of lakes, especially, in <br />this case, Lake Minnetonka. Lake Classen and the surrounding wetlands drain into Stubbs Bay. Most of <br />Orono is in the Minnehaha watershed area. <br />There are also discussions about minimizing hardcover run-off, preventing stormwater flooding, and <br />prevention of other pollution, including light pollution that destroys the dark sky. There is a stated desire <br />to protect views, protect trees and wildlife, to maintain the rural nature and appearance of this area and to <br />protect the character of the neighborhoods. These goals are summarized on p.3A-39 of the EPP. <br />It is clear that a lot of work and consideration went into that document. <br />The 2040 plan and the EPP from the 2030 plan both state that the will of the residents of Orono is more <br />important than rapid development or any outside influence. Both documents praise and promote the <br />tendency for slow growth and thoughtfully considered development.(p. 3A-13, EPP) <br />The 2040 plan specifically addresses lakeshore property development on p. 313-12. It seems to be <br />primarily regarding Lake Minnetonka, but should apply to all lakeshore property in Orono. <br />Allowing the construction of either of the two proposed apartment complexes (Eisinger Flats and Orono <br />apartments) runs directly counter to the guiding principles outlined in the Environmental Protection Plan. <br />So one needs to ask, why would the council and planning commission consider these proposals? It is <br />because both the planning commission and the council are pressured the Met Council, which is an <br />unelected body of power hungry individuals who want to push their worldview on everyone else. I am <br />sure you all are aware of the uproar regarding 4-plexes (now tri-plexes) in existing residential <br />neighborhoods. <br />Both the council and the planning commission have to take into account the Met Council growth <br />predictions. Why? What happens if Orono doesn't grow as fast as the Met Council thinks it should? <br />The Met Council is for the urban part of the Twin Cities, not for out here. The Met Council's wishes and <br />goals, are directly opposed to maintaining an open rural feel in a community. <br />Why not let Orono grow organically? Slowly? <br />Interestingly, the Met Council's Storm Water Impact Investigation (1973) notes that 1. "the impact of <br />converting an area of undeveloped land to dense residential use will increase the pollution load from that <br />area by more than ten (10) times." And 2. "The storm water from dense residential areas averages <br />fourteen times greater phosphorus concentrations than the lakes ... [and] these concentrations are over <br />nine times greater than the concentrations associated with nuisance algae blooms."(EPP p. 3A-21) <br />Another question: Who gains from these developments? The developer does. The owner of the giant <br />apartment complexes does. The owner of the land these developments will be built on does. Maybe the <br />city does, because of increased property taxes, although if the land was developed as zoned, it would <br />probably be about the same. If the high density housing brings in lots of children, however, all the city <br />money will go to build more classrooms. <br />Who does not benefit from these developments? The current residents, the people who live here now, <br />who pay taxes now, who live here because they like the way it is. <br />More on the developers: For both projects, both developers are already asking to go higher than the 30 <br />foot height limit. Probably they don't make as much money on a two story building as on a three story <br />building. <br />Yet another question: Why were the households that would be directly affected by these high density <br />projects not officially notified of these projects? Just before the last planning commission meeting, the <br />families in our neighborhood received an anonymous letter about the proposed "Orono <br />