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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday,April 15,2019 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> stated a trail to the park would probably be a real amenity along with some other recreational uses. <br /> Overall it is a good project and he would support it. <br /> Libby asked if the applicant has had recent discussions with the MPCA. <br /> Ryan indicated Michelle at Wenck&Associates has been in discussions with them and that it is <br /> anticipated they will receive approval by the end of the month. <br /> Libby noted a number of upper scale apartment buildings are now dog friendly and that a lot of them have <br /> their own dog parks right on the property, which might be something to consider for this site. <br /> Ryan commented that might be a good idea for one of the recreational areas. <br /> Ressler asked how many occupants they are anticipating overall. Ressler noted while there are quite a <br /> few one-bedroom apartments, some of those renters will be married. <br /> Ryan indicated there are 311 bedrooms and that they believe a majority of them will be single renters. <br /> Gettman asked whether they have any metrics on the number of children. <br /> Ryan indicated they do not at this time. <br /> Barnhart noted there is a private recreational aspect to this application,which would not go before the <br /> Park Commission since they are privately maintained. Any public recreational facilities would need to go <br /> before the Park Commission. <br /> Chair Thiesse opened the public hearing at 9:00 p.m. <br /> Stacey Royal, 3135 Jamestown Road, noted she was here in November when it was presented as a sketch <br /> plan and that the significant increase in the number of units is a concern for her. As Staff mentioned,this <br /> will be one of the largest developments in the area and the impacts of that need to be fully considered. <br /> When the City was looking at the Comprehensive Plan,there was a discussion about reducing it down to <br /> 140 units. <br /> Royal indicated over the last year she has gotten more involved with the Comprehensive Plan and she <br /> understands how a development of this size would be beneficial to meet the Metropolitan Council's <br /> density numbers but that they need to understand all the impacts of adding this many units in one area. <br /> Royal noted the school has done a lot of traffic studies but that she is not sure whether those traffic studies <br /> address an additional 400 cars on the road during the typical times of kids getting to and from school. <br /> Royal commented she understands this application will probably move forward at some point and that she <br /> anticipates a lot of development going on in Long Lake, Orono,and Medina to meet the demands of the <br /> Metropolitan Council. Royal encouraged the Planning Commission to give some thought to whether <br /> Orono wants to have the biggest development right in their back yard. <br /> Larry Darren,480 Stubbs Bay Road, stated he and his wife moved away from Chicago a few years ago to <br /> get away from the congestion and crime. Orono's website lists a number of different developments going <br /> on in the area, including this one at 244 units,the senior housing development at 50 some units,the other <br /> Page 23 of 29 <br />