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Deirdre Kvale <br />58 Creekside Drive <br />Long Lake, MN 55356 <br />Via email —April 16, 2017 <br />Mike Gaffron, Senior Planner for the City of Orono <br />Re: Proposed Development of 135 Orono Orchard Road, North <br />My name is Deirdre Kvale and I am an adjacent property owner to 135 Orono Orchard <br />Road, North. I am concerned about the proposed development and rezoning of the one family <br />rural residential use of the property to a high density development. As acknowledged by the <br />Applicants, Gordon James and the YMCA, the property is an exceptional natural asset with <br />significant wetlands, extensive tree cover and rolling topography, and I have the following <br />questions or concerns regarding the proposal. <br />• The building site includes a swath of land surrounded by a steep incline or hill and <br />wetlands. Has there been a detailed environment impact study done to determine the <br />amount of erosion and impact to the surrounding wetlands? <br />• The Applicants propose large houses 4,000 — 6,000 square feet on 0.8-1.5 acre lots. Lots <br />4-11 appear to have minimal flat buildable area to support a 4,000-6,OOOft2 house. It is <br />presumed that in order to build houses on lots 4-11, significant grading will be necessary <br />to alter the topography of the land to provide a large enough building pad. What is the <br />magnitude of the impact of altering the topography of the landscape to the surrounding <br />wetlands and will this impact be the subject of intensive study and review? <br />• The development plans include lots 1-3 that encroach the wetlands. As understood at <br />least lots 1-2 are prohibited by RPUD zoning regulations unless waived. Has there been a <br />study of the water table and impact the development of lots 1-3 will have on the wetlands <br />and watershed? <br />• The Applicants assert that the development will be "welcomed by" the surrounding <br />neighborhoods. Do the Applicants have evidence to support this statement and if so, <br />could the Applicants identify neighbors or neighborhoods in support of their proposed <br />development? <br />• Have alternate proposals been considered by the property owner that would preserve this <br />natural asset? In particular, has the YMCA considered use of the property as a nature <br />preserve or sale of the property as a single family residence consistent with its current <br />condition? <br />