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 13 1. The foremost guiding principle and goal of Orono's planning is to protect and preserve Lake Minnetonka, and all Lakes and natural resources, its water quality, and its recreational assets. This goal continues a commitment established half a century ago. It includes preservation of the associated marshes, wetlands and natural drainageways as the primary, most practical and cost efficient method of preventing flooding and of filtering out the nutrient pollution from stormwater runoff. Maintaining a low-density rural area away from the lake, and managing the quality of runoff that flows directly to the lake, are important elements of this goal. 2. To retain the existing urban-rural land use pattern on a permanent basis. 3. To maintain our local character and identity. This local character is defined by strong neighborhoods, preponderance of wildlife, open spaces, lakes, and wetlands. 4. To protect and preserve our many natural resources including all lakes, creeks, marshes, wetlands, woodlands, groundwater and steep slopes. 5. To preserve open space, light, air, and solar access for all citizens while maintaining night sky. 6. To protect the general public health, safety and welfare through the development of ordinances, policies, and infrastructure that provides safe, efficient streets and neighborhoods, transportation alternatives, parks and opens spaces. 7. To guide investment and reinvestment in the City at densities consistent with environmental protection and the planned land use pattern. The city’s focus is in development and redevelopment is preservation of established character, rather than the creation of a new character. 8. To protect the financial stability of the City, providing an adequate level of services at efficient cost to the taxpayer. Orono's Planning Policies 1. Future development will be guided to protect and enhance the Lake Minnetonka watershed. Lake Minnetonka has local and regional significance as a vital ingredient in human experience and in the quality of life of all Orono residents. No development will be permitted that would have a detrimental effect on the Lake. 2. Urbanization will not be expanded into the existing rural areas. Orono's Community Management Plan is not a staged growth plan, and therefore the Urban area will not be expanded into the Rural Area. Urban services will not be expanded into the Rural Area except when necessary to protect the public health, or to avoid or eliminate negative impacts to surface and groundwaters. 3. The existing and planned Urban Area is fixed. Orono's Urban Area is fixed by the various elements of the Community Management Plan, and is shown on Map 3B-1.