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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, July 17, 2017 <br />6:30 o'clock p.m. <br />Landgraver asked why only 48 units will quality as residential rather than 70 units. <br />Barnhart stated the Metropolitan Council will only count units as residential if they contain a full kitchen. <br />Based on preliminary discussions, only 48 will qualify. <br />Landgraver asked what the height of the condominiums is across the street. <br />Barnhart indicated those are three stories with underground parking. Barnhart stated it is Staff's belief <br />they are higher than the proposed building. <br />Thiesse asked if the property to the west would also require an RPUD or whether it could be developed as <br />it is currently zoned. <br />Barnhart stated it could be developed as a commercial parcel. <br />Ashish Aggarwal, Developer, stated they appeared before the City last fall to get some guidance on their <br />sketch plan. Apex Holdings has owned the property for approximately three years now and that they <br />considered senior housing and a commercial warehouse for this site. Aggarwal stated in their view the <br />best option for this property is senior housing. The City Council at that time was very open to the senior <br />housing project given the available housing in the area as well as the higher density meeting the ratios of <br />the Metropolitan Council. Aggarwal noted they will need 70 units to make the project financially feasible <br />and that the units are divided into independent, assisted, and memory care units. <br />Sanjeev Mangalick, Applicant, stated they have performed some initial market studies and that the studies <br />did support the demand for 60 units. The studies also demonstrated this type of housing growing by 50 <br />percent over the next four years. <br />Mangalick commented Orono is unique because it has a lot of single-family residential homes but does <br />not have a lot of options for seniors, which then pushes people out of Orono. <br />Aggarwal stated it is their belief this project fits well with what the City requires, what is currently <br />available, and what the site is guided for. <br />Page 4 of 11 <br />