03-24-2009 Council Work Session Packet

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i � First meetin�, Au�ust 10, 2004: At this workshop city council members provided responses to a questionnaire prepared by the consultants. This purpose of the questionnaire was to identify and prioritize the community assets that these policy makers wanted to protect, and reach consensus about the adverse effects of development that threaten the image and character they support. These questionnaires were tabulated and presented to the council and the subsequent discussion guided the direction of the remainder of the study. Visual Preference Surve�August, 2004: Orono city officials were given disposable cameras and instructed to take photographs of images and elements that they want to maintain and those that captured features and characteristics they did not want to see in the city. Each participant used one camera for positive photos and another for negative. The cameras were returned to the consultant, who developed, compiled, and arranged the images for presentation and discussion. The above steps were essential in establishing a framework for the analysis, concept development schemes, and design standards described in this CPA and related documents. Phase II-Analysis By combining the comments from the workshop, results of the visual preference survey, MLCCS data, and ecological fieldwork, the consultants were able to establish a methodology for analyzing the Orono landscape. The second phase of the Rural Oasis project entailed an aesthetic and ecological analysis of significant undeveloped parcels in the city. The analysis focused on 3 potential development sites and 10 important roadway corridors that were selected by city staff. Second Meeting, January 12, 200�: City Council members, Planning Commission members, Park Commission members, and city staff attended a workshop that covered the following topics: • A discussion of the background and purpose of the study. • A summary of the study process for the Rural Oasis Project. � A presentation of the Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS) as it applies to Orono, in order to establish a baseline ecology for the city and execute an ecological analysis. • An overview of the principles of Conservation Design, in order to describe an ecologically sound alternative to traditional large-lot zoning. • Presentation of an analysis of the relative rural aesthetic character of 10 corridors. (See CPA Figure 1). Analysis included examination of these factors: o Adjacent land uses o Corridor enclosure: open, varied, edged, tunneled o Landmarks and unique, character-giving spots • A detailed ecological analysis of 3 pilot sites within the community, selected from a group of potential development sites (See CPA Figure 6). • Presentation of visual preference photos taken by city officials, residents, and staff grouped into categories by the consultant. • Open discussion of all items presented. City of Orono DSU Inc � Draft CPA 4 August, 2005