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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,March 16,2015 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Stickney stated it will be single-family homes but that they are not required to have a walkout. <br /> Weir noted walkouts tend to require additional grading, which will further impact the woods. Weir asked <br /> where the septic systems go. <br /> Stickney stated in the wooded lots,the septic sites will have to go in the woods. Stickney indicated they <br /> have made some of the lots wider to help accommodate the septic sites. Stickney stated where Ms. Weir <br /> would like the cul-de-sac relocated has over an eight percent slope. <br /> Madeline Link, 1762 Morgan Road, Medina, stated she is familiar with the development on Willow and <br /> that she was there both before and after the development. Link stated there is a definite opening and <br /> fragmentation of the woods after the development. <br /> Link indicated she has a degree in wildlife, is an avid bird watcher, and is very active with local <br /> environmental organizations. Link stated Liz Weir is absolutely right about the impact to the Big Woods <br /> that would occur. Link noted Hennepin County is the land of Big Woods and not the land of prairie. <br /> Link stated her main concern is fragmentation, which has been done a great deal in Hennepin County. <br /> Link stated she is an advocate for wildlife and that small woodlots with driveways going through them are <br /> not conducive to wildlife. Link stated big homes with big windows means big kill of birds. Link stated <br /> while there may not be any endangered species of wildlife that live in the Big Woods, there are a number <br /> of important native bird species. <br /> Link stated in her view this development should impact the woods less and that driveways and septic <br /> systems will ruin it for the wildlife. Link stated dead, old trees are more important to the wildlife than <br /> newly planted trees. Link noted it will take over 100 years before any of those trees become significant. <br /> Link stated she would like to point out that they need to think about the Big Woods and the fact that there <br /> is not much left in Hennepin County. Link stated she would encourage the developer to move those <br /> houses out of the Big Woods. Link stated prairie does not take too long to restore and that typically <br /> within 10 to 12 years it is fully restored. <br /> Link stated she would really like to see the family protect as much of the woods as possible with less <br /> fragmentation. Link stated once it is gone, it is gone, and that they need to think ahead to future <br /> generations. Link stated she would strongly encourage the Planning Commission to think of ways to <br /> preserve as much of the Big Woods as possible. <br /> Chair Leskinen closed the public hearing at 8:58 p.m. <br /> Leskinen noted no formal action is required by the Planning Commission tonight. Leskinen commented <br /> she appreciates the efforts to preserve as much as they are. <br /> Stickney noted Lots 8 and 9 are three acre lots but that they are taking 1.7 acres out of the equation that <br /> will not be touched. Stickney stated that might leave an acre of opening for a yard and a house. There is <br /> also another 150-foot border on some of the other lots that will be minimally touched. Stickney indicated <br /> the meandering driveway is done for specific reasons and that given the amount of woods that will remain <br /> untouched, people will not see those homes in the summer. <br /> Link asked how big the driveway has to be. <br /> Page 26 of 30 <br />