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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 /> Schoenzeit asked if there is any benefit to the development as well as the neighborhood in creating <br /> something more unique that would be more in line with the upper-end single-family homes. <br /> Wasmoen stated they could change the materials and shapes of the gables. Wasmoen indicated the gables <br /> are decorative and that they could perhaps add an octagon room on some units and not others. <br /> Schoenzeit stated given the price point,the developer could be a little more creative. Schoenzeit stated in <br /> his view it appears to have a cookie-cutter appearance. <br /> Wasmoen stated there could be adjustments made in the plans and that some will have decks or other <br /> features and some will not. Wasmoen stated there is also the ability to use different stone and brick on <br /> the twinhomes. <br /> Lemke asked if the vegetation would be basically removed on the upper portion of the site. <br /> Wasmoen indicated a vegetation and landscape plan is required as part of the next step. Wasmoen noted <br /> they will be providing a buffer to the northeast side of the drive. Wasmoen stated as it relates to the tree <br /> canopy that extends onto the other property,they will attempt to preserve that and it will be part of the <br /> consideration for how that gets developed. <br /> Chair Leskinen opened the public hearing at 7:02 p.m. <br /> Judy Fredrickson, 2507 Kelly Avenue, noted she was in attendance at the last meeting when this was <br /> discussed and that she is disappointed they have to appear again in order to defend their neighborhood. <br /> At the September 15 meeting,the neighbors expressed their dissatisfaction with the proposal. <br /> Fredrickson stated the neighbors also attended a neighborhood meeting held at the Freshwater Institute in <br /> December. At the end of that meeting John Bessesen said, okay, we will build four single-family homes <br /> with two roads off of Kelly Avenue at the north and the south ends with two houses at the top. <br /> Fredrickson stated she thanked him for listening to their concerns and that she was surprised and <br /> disappointed to read that Staff did not hear anything about that meeting. <br /> Fredrickson stated the bigger picture is to think about the City overall and that every City has to look at <br /> what is important to the City and what is unique about the City. The Planning Commission is about <br /> protecting what is unique about the City of Orono. Fredrickson indicated she looked at the City's <br /> website and it talks about protecting and preserving Lake Minnetonka, preserving distinct urban and rural <br /> land patterns and lifestyles, and preserving Orono's local character and identity. <br /> Fredrickson stated in looking at this particular project, in her view what they are doing here today is <br /> talking about all this because the property owner, David Delaney, wants to build multi-family on this site. <br /> The applicants have not presented one compelling reason for doing multi-family. Fredrickson stated the <br /> only reason they are talking about it is a return on investment for Mr. Delaney, who will make more <br /> money if he builds four twinhomes than he would on single-family. Fredrickson stated the neighbors are <br /> not asking for a transition and that she has not seen anybody around the age 55 walking around looking <br /> for a place to live. Fredrickson stated that is not what this is about and that it is about a return on <br /> investment for Mr. Delaney. <br /> Page 7 of 30 <br />