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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,August 18,2014 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> 9. #14-3680 NATURAL LANDSCAPE MINNESOTA,INC.,ON BEHALF OF BRAD AND <br /> PAT CLEVELAND,4315 NORTH SHORE DRIVE, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND <br /> VARIANCE,8:47 P.M.—8:52 P.M. <br /> Curtis sated the property owners are in the process of constructing a new home on the site. The applicant <br /> is requesting conditional use permit approval to conduct minor land alterations within 75 feet of the lake <br /> for a redesigned lake access path, including in-grade stairs. As part of the project,the existing in-grade <br /> deteriorated wooden path/staircase will be removed and replaced with a new blue stone and flagstone <br /> staircase and pathway. Including the stair walk, the hardcover on the property will be below 25 percent. <br /> Hardcover calculations include 692 square feet of hardcover existing within the 0-75 plus the proposed <br /> 158 square foot portion of the new stair within 75 feet. The total stair hardcover is 813 square feet with <br /> the path up around the patio area. <br /> The City code indicates that a CUP is required to prior to engaging in activities that include fill, elevating <br /> or altering the existing natural grade. The conditionally permitted uses must be reviewed against the <br /> criteria found in Sections 78-916 and 78-1286 of the City Code. Staff has reviewed the application <br /> against the conditional use permit criteria and has provided an analysis within the Staff report of the <br /> relevant criteria. <br /> Staff believes the proposed grading within the 75-foot setback will have no impact on surrounding lands. <br /> Drainage patterns for runoff leaving the site are not proposed to be altered. The proposed grading within <br /> the 0-75 foot zone has been designed to minimize environmental impacts. An engineering review has not <br /> been conducted as of yet for the stairs specifically. Curtis indicated several of the elements on the <br /> property have changed throughout the construction of the new house and the City Engineer has reviewed <br /> the plan a number of times but he will review it again prior to placement on the Council agenda for their <br /> review. Any engineering issues must be addressed with an administrative permit to construct the stairs. <br /> Planning Staff recommends approval of the conditional use permit for the earth work within the 75-foot <br /> setback area to construct the pathway/stair system conditioned upon the following: <br /> 1. A revised landscape plan should be submitted which offers screening of the stairs in a natural <br /> way; <br /> 2. Conformance with the City Engineer's forthcoming comments will be required. <br /> Curtis noted the applicant has provided a fairly extensive landscape plan but that it was lacking any <br /> landscaping around the stairs. Staff would like to see a plan that incorporates screening or vegetation <br /> around the stair system to help screen it from the lake. <br /> The Planning Commissioners had no questions for Staff. <br /> Curtis stated she does not believe the applicant is present this evening. <br /> Chair Leskinen opened the public hearing at 8:51 p.m. <br /> There were no public comments regarding this application. <br /> Chair Leskinen closed the public hearing at 8:51 p.m. <br /> Page 25 of 33 <br />