Orono Community Management Plan 2020-2040

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CMP Part 2. Community Management Plan Foundation City of Orono Community Management Plan 2020-2040 Part 2, Page 12 Orono's managed growth policy means that the need to use and enjoy Lake Minnetonka will be balanced with protection of its water quality and accessibility for future generations. This policy means that the acceptance of growth and development changes will be balanced with conservation of our resources and natural amenities, and maintenance of our small town social character. Orono intends to remain two communities in one. The historically developed area around and near the Lake Minnetonka shoreline has been called "Urban" because of historic developed density with lots typically one acre in area or smaller and the availability of a limited level of urban services. The area away from the Lake has been termed "Rural" because of the lack of density, the abundance of open space and the citizens' commitment to maintain this type of development. The majority of Orono's 'Rural Area' has been zoned to require a minimum of 2 acres of dry buildable land per residential lot, with an area in the northwest corner of the City requiring at least 5 dry buildable acres. When wetlands and roads are factored in, nearly 80% of the City’s land will be developed at densities averaging from approximately 1 unit per 3 gross acres up to 1 unit per 7 gross acres, sufficient to meet the City's environmental protection goals. The Metropolitan Urban Service Area ("MUSA") was established by Metropolitan Council to define the extent of areas where urban services will be provided and urban scale development will occur. As part of its Metro 2040 Regional Growth Strategy developed in 1996, Metropolitan Council for discussion purposes suggested that all but the northwestern tip of Orono will be in the MUSA by 2020. However, the City Council in the City’s 2000-2020 CMP included a much smaller area within the MUSA to be consistent with the extent of City-planned municipal sewer extensions, and to be consistent with the development plans of our neighboring municipalities. Map 3B-1in the Land Use Chapter depicts Orono's defined “Urban” areas (where zoning density will range from 1 unit per acre to as many as 25 units per acre) and its “Rural” areas (where ultimate developed density will range from 1 unit per 5 acres to 1 unit per 2 acres). Orono’s 2010-2030 MUSA as approved by Met Council in 2008 reflect a clear intent to bring municipal sewer to lakeshore and shoreland areas where needed, as well as to existing concentrations of population where septic systems may not be suitable for the long-term. But most of all, Orono citizens have located the MUSA line and have defined the urban and rural areas to be consistent with their plans for permanent use and development of the City. COMMUNITY GOALS AND POLICIES The goals and policies of this plan have met the test of time in Orono. The basic premise of maintaining distinct urban and rural neighborhoods continues a hundred-year tradition. The commitment to environmental preservation remains uppermost in the list of priorities of Orono's residents. The inter- reliance of lake area communities for shopping and commercial needs, for housing variety and for provision of basic public services is both historic and economically practical. The following goals and policies reflect the basic philosophies of Orono. Goals and policies affecting the entire City are grouped in an "overall" category. In addition, more detailed goals and policies are separated under their appropriate "urban" or "rural" classification. Finally, each separate CMP chapter has detailed goals and policies relating to that particular subject. GENERAL GOALS AND POLICIES Orono's Planning Goals