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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday,October 21,2013 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Carol Pass,215 North Arm Lane, stated she would challenge the Planning Commission and City Council <br /> to look at other options. Pass stated she does development in Minneapolis and that sometimes there are <br /> pieces of property that are very special. Pass stated if the City does not try to come up with something <br /> creative and be willing to spend some money and make a big effort,the City would have no parks. Pass <br /> noted there is always pressure to sell off the parks in Minneapolis but that they have an independent park <br /> board that refuses to sell them. <br /> Pass stated in her view Orono has a City Council that has been at times very creative and that in her view <br /> propelling this application forward this quickly does not allow the City time to look at other options. Pass <br /> stated she does not want to see the Wenkstern family suffer financially but that the City should be willing <br /> to look at their options to preserve this area. Once the property is developed,the green space will never <br /> come back. Pass indicated she has not heard anything from the City to respond to the concerns that open <br /> land should be preserved,which is the job of the City. <br /> Pass stated her second concern is that North Arm Bay is a lake area that has been hard to keep clean. The <br /> water quality of the bay is below that of other lakes and the City would be adding 59 septic systems in an <br /> area that is extremely porous with multiple creeks and water rivulets that ultimately go into North Arm <br /> Bay. Pass commented the whole area is squishy and is like a giant sponge. The water does not stay in the <br /> creeks but is all over the place. This development would add an enormous burden on North Arm, which <br /> is already struggling for decent water quality. Pass stated this development would really add a huge load <br /> on that lake by putting so many septic systems on this site. <br /> Pass stated she would like to hear some concern on the part of the City about the water quality and <br /> retaining the natural areas that are still left. Pass stated this development will change the character of <br /> Orono and that the City needs to do something creative to help preserve this area. <br /> Robin Johnson, 4730 North Ann Drive, stated she does not have much to add to what has already been <br /> said,but that she would like to say that everyone truly understands the difficulties the Wenksterns are in <br /> and that they are supportive of them. <br /> Johnson stated at the same time she has a passionate love for this land. Johnson indicated she moved here <br /> in July of 2003 and that she has two small children. Johnson stated she walks this land every day and that <br /> they can all agree the community is better because of this area and the family business. Johnson stated <br /> the air quality is better because of the open space and that in her view there are environmental issues that <br /> have not been considered as well as aesthetic issues. <br /> Johnson stated she moved to Orono specifically because of the rural character of the area with one house <br /> per acre or more as well as the beautiful hills,trees, and rolling open space. Johnson stated this land is a <br /> premium and it is going away. Johnson commented she likes how the community is coming together to <br /> encourage the City to look at other options for this land. Johnson stated before the City rushes to micro- <br /> clusters,they should talk about the possibility of keeping some of the space open. <br /> Brenda Johnson, 520 North Arm Drive,noted she attended the work session earlier this evening and read <br /> the consulting engineer's report. Johnson stated she would encourage the Planning Commission to table <br /> the application and not change the use of the property. The City needs to evaluate the alternative uses of <br /> the property as it relates to community goals. Johnson stated the City took a long time to develop the <br /> long-range plan with input from the community and that it seems like overnight there is a <br /> recommendation to change the use of the long-range plan as it relates to the use of this property. <br /> Page 32 of 42 <br />