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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,November 17,2014 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Leskinen noted that is something that cannot be addressed by the Planning Commission and would need <br /> to be taken up with the City Council. <br /> Gaffron stated the City Council will be reviewing that ordinance and that there have been some instances <br /> where the City Council has deviated from those fees. Gaffron stated he does not disagree that the fee is <br /> huge but that there is a basis for why the fee was put in place and that it is something that should be taken <br /> up with the City Council. <br /> Denman stated the plan would be to handle all of the drainage on site so there would not be a burden to <br /> the City. <br /> Chair Leskinen opened the public hearing at 8:45 p.m. <br /> Gaffron noted a public hearing is technically not required with a sketch plan but that Staff would like to <br /> hear any public comments from interested parties. <br /> Jim Whalen stated they have owned their piece of property for approximately 40 years. In approximately <br /> 1998,when the Department of Transportation was putting in a new road,access was taken away. The <br /> Department of Transportation purchased the land to the north and constructed the CR6/US 12 interchange, <br /> which prevented them from accessing their property. <br /> Whalen stated they do not plan to build on the land. Whalen indicated they operate a bible camp up in <br /> Aitkin County and that they would like to donate the land to the ministry,who would then sell it and have <br /> the funds to construct a main building on the property up in Aitkin County. <br /> Whalen noted he and his wife have submitted a letter to the City outlining some of their concerns with the <br /> proposed development. <br /> Jean Whalen stated she is happy to see that there might be a solution for providing access to their <br /> property. <br /> Chair Leskinen closed the public hearing at 8:47 p.m. <br /> Leskinen stated the sketch plan is pretty straight forward and gives some hope to the Whalens and the <br /> other small lot. Leskinen indicated she does have a small concern with the shared driveway,but since it <br /> would only be for two large lots, it probably will not be an issue and that other options could be explored. <br /> Landgraver asked if the developer has had any discussions with the Whalens yet. <br /> Denman indicated he did have a phone conversation with them and that they had been exploring access <br /> from the Jacobs Mill Road easements. Denman stated he had been working with that homeowners <br /> association to see whether access could be gotten from them but that not much progress was being made. <br /> Denman stated at that point in time he had not come to the City and discussed other access routes and that <br /> in his view this is a good solution for them and the Whalens. <br /> Landgraver commented it would be extremely helpful for the Whalens if access could be worked out. <br /> Denman stated they would like to recover some of their costs in putting infrastructure to the Whalen site. <br /> Page 19 of 23 <br />