04-23-2018 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes of the Orono City Council & Planning Commission Special Joint Work Session Monday, April 9, 2018 Council Chambers 5:00 p.m. June and hold a public hearing, the City Council will see the preliminary plan in July, and meanwhile starting May 1St public comments will be received and continue throughout the summer and those comments will come back to City Council in September or October and any changes at that time will be incorporated into the plan and will be addressed in December. After final approval the Comprehensive plan will be submitted to Metropolitan Council likely at the end of December. Mayor Dennis Walsh noted that the city needs to get as much citizen input as possible regarding the road because it is an important aspect of this plan. Rief mentioned that the city does anticipate a public comment period for the road as well prior to final approval of the Comprehensive Plan. Dankey mentioned that only 6 of 58 business owners in Navarre had returned a questionnaire in 2011. She asked Zweber of WSB had attempted to engage those businesses this time. Zweber mentioned that WSB has engaged people throughout the PAC and Open House but has not interviewed any of those businesses. Dankey would like to see more interaction with all of the business owners if possible. Barnhart mentioned that it was a very good comment, however we will need additional resources to implement that type of engagement. Barnhart noted that we are trying to engage as many people as we can with the resources we have. If the Council would allow more resources to do that we would certainly reach out for that additional feedback. Walsh noted that getting as many people's input as we can is the goal and that there is always time to amend the Comprehensive Plan in the future as new recommendations and ideas come about. Zweber mentioned that if the Council would like to keep the PAC going as a working group to continue working on various aspects of the plan, including the intersection, trail extensions, community events section, etc. the can do that and it would be beneficial. Rief thanked everyone for coming and sharing their input; it is much appreciated. He mentioned that density is one of the main areas of concern that had been identified. Rief noted that Thirty feet is the recommendation and that he would like to get the group's input on the density/height. Walsh noted that the biggest general concern that the Council and Orono residents has is not whether or not to have density in their neighborhood. It makes sense in certain areas, but he is not convinced that Navarre is the area to allow more density in since it has its