07-10-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, June 19, 2017 6:30 o'clock p.m. The City is guided by a Comprehensive Plan, a plan written in principle and philosophy. In fact, Orono's Comprehensive Plan has been renamed to the Community Management Plan, which emphasizes the word community. Olson stated the title of this plan has been chosen to signify its intent and purpose. The word community is meant to stress the fact that this is, in fact, the plan and desire of the citizens. The retention of Orono's small town sense of community and personal interaction is a guiding factor. Throughout multiple pages of the Community Management Plan, it defines the purpose, and throughout the introduction, emphasizes the guiding principles of a plan, not as a whim, but is meant in repeated words to offer clear guidance for the future. When interpreting the meaning and understanding of the Community Management Plan, implementation of new developments should be weighted most favorably in the guiding principles, which are to protect and preserve Lake Minnetonka and its water quality, to preserve our distinct urban lifestyles and land use patterns, preserve and protect our many natural resources and open spaces and preserve our local character and identity. The Community Management Plan includes six elements critical to the development philosophy. First and foremost are environmental protections and land use. In this, Orono residents place the highest priority on open space, preservation of woodlands, wetlands, habitat, with a particular emphasis on dark skies allowing for the maintenance of a night sky free from light pollution. Additionally, land use which maintains a historic identity and character of Orono's urban neighbors shall be a key element in Orono's land use planning. The residents have had an opportunity to review Westwood's plan and we find it to be an overwhelmingly and ambitious project, designed outside the extremes of Orono's allowable development of this area. We have found it to be dismissive of community concerns and not particularly accurate in representing the opposition to this project. Olson stated they have reviewed Mr. Barnhart's staff submission to the Commission and appreciate Staffs input. The residents have found that this area would need to be rezoned to RPUD for the implementation of certain housing goals. Mr. Barnhart cites seven significant principles for the RPUD. The Westwood proposal falls woefully short, failing to meet six of the seven; most notably preservation of desirable site characteristics and open space and the protection of sensitive environmental features, a Page 6 of 14