01-06-2014 Council Packet Special Meeting

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Item #01- Special Council Meeting - 01106114 File #13-3638 & 13-3639 [Total Pages 99] MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, November 12, 2013 7:00 o'clock p.m. (8. #13-3638 and 13-3639 SOURCE LAND CAPITAL, LLC (PAT HILLER) O/B/O GRANT WENKSTERN (LAKEVIEW GOLF), 405 NORTHARM DRIVE, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTAND SKETCH PLANREVIEW, Continued) Iverson commented surgeons like to cut, civil engineers like to build, and developers like to develop, but Roy Rogers once said, buy land, they don't make it anymore. Iverson stated while the drawings are nice, it does not show what will happen once you put all these clustered houses in. Iverson stated in his view it will not be quite the rosy picture the developer likes to paint and that he would be surprised if the developer could take their projected 59 lots and actually create 59 two -acre lots. Iverson stated the land is one step above or equal to the land where a holding pond would go. Iverson noted the development of Red Oaks is going to be a huge impact in itself and that it would not hurt Orono to take a sit back and wait approach to see what that impact is. Steve Bren, North Arm Drive, stated the residents and City needs the answers to the questions raised and that these questions should be answered prior to making a decision on amending the Comprehensive Plan. Bren stated in his view the citizens deserve 60 days to look at alternatives and that they have some good ideas as well as a lot of power and energy. Bren stated the Comprehensive Plan is the very foundation of why a number of people live here, and to alter that only based on a sketch is irresponsible to the citizens, the sellers, and the buyers. Given the possibilities of losing this open space, Bren stated it warrants further research. Bren asked how presenting a housing sketch plan meets the current 2008-2030 Community Management Plan and whether it provided the City and its residents with compelling reasons to amend the vision of the community. Bren acknowledged the Wenkstern family has the right to sell their land but questioned whether this is the only viable option. Bren stated in his opinion there are other options available if the residents are given the time to research it. Bren indicated he is also wondering whether a comprehensive marketing plan should be conducted to see if it supports this type of housing. The City does not want a project that will languish and stall leaving Orono citizens with a failed housing project. In addition, further study needs to be done to determine whether the current road structure will support all of the traffic corning out of Red Oak as well as an additional fifty some homes coming out of Lakeview. The development will impact the surrounding road system by adding to the amount of traffic in the area and alter existing traffic patterns. Bren commented he is not sure whether the relocation of the road to North Arm will be a final decision and that the driveway location has yet to be determined. Bren stated there are a number of people who are worried that the drawings that are before the City Council will not be at all what the end project will look like. Bren stated a delay in reaching a decision allows the developer to supply more information about the viability of his proposal and offers Orono an opportunity to research alternatives that are in line with the Community Management Plan. Carol Pass, 2536 -18'h Avenue South, Minneapolis, stated the Metropolitan Council wants Orono to bring in denser housing and that in her view the City of Orono will do it in a responsible way. Pass indicated she has worked hard to get a park for the children in Minneapolis and that Minneapolis has the best park system in the nation. Every kid in Minneapolis can walk to a park, which will likely not happen here. Page 24 of 36