10-19-2020 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, September 21,2020 6:00 o'clock p.m. towards the rear, so as you're walking past, one would be looking at the front of a home, rather than a big sheet of pavement with a driveway. He noted the top lot seems to be a point of contention,which perhaps echoes Mr. Barnhart's feedback; Kirchner thinks Building 40-43 on the North and South of that building being included in that recreational space, he doesn't know if it's necessary to get to that 10% coverage and if it's there just to get to the 10%coverage, he doesn't really love the idea as it just runs alongside the buildings and there is no definitive line of it being the side-yard versus incorporated in with the recreational area. Mr. Saddiqui noted they do meet the 10%requirement, and the intent of bringing the concept in front of the Commission is to understand and see how they can make the project viable for both the City to accept and what they would leave behind as a David Weekley product. He noted they are extremely proud of what they do and they don't look for cutting corners and just trying to make a buck out of it. He reiterated that is not the intent of David Weekley nor the culture within the company, which is why he was upfront with them that if it didn't work for the Board,they can go down to 35-38 units. Because this is a PUD,they have the luxury to adjust in terms of the setbacks that would give what the original intentions are of the City to achieve as many units as possible, while at the same time can they offset the setbacks and come up with a building layout that is not directly exposed to those two streets(which they did), and in order to enhance and protect the safety of what Mr. Libby said,they have nice ornamental fencing,with nice piers, columns, entry features and brick monuments on all corners of the property. He noted they are respecting conditions by bringing in a product that will support that corner, and they may be able to play with the topline area and bring them inside what Mr. Barnhart is recommending. If they work with the certain setbacks,this project will work; however, if they stick by the book of 15 feet, 50 feet and 50 feet,the project is dead. He noted that is where they are at today, and it would be nice if after the meeting he could go back to the team and say they have some direction. Kirchner asked regarding the side portion along 40 and 43: if they did away with it and did not count it as recreational space, would they still meet the 10%. Applicant's Engineer Mark Rausch said they'd be about 3,000-3,500 feet short. Kirchner said right alongside those buildings, it's not really something the people residing there would view as a public space, but rather viewed as the side to a building or side-yard. He would appreciate a bit more thought as to how they can incorporate a little more square footage that way. Mr. Saddiqui said to open up the thought process of what was initially proposed or thought, as to the very high density...they were very skeptical if it was going to work in this location with the number of units because they were going down to 60%of what was proposed. If they are going to stick with some of those side-yard scenarios, it would shrink significantly. Chair Ressler stated Orono and Burnsville are probably different, and Orono prides itself as a rural area, although it is becoming more dense, which is something requested by the Met Council, and it hasn't necessarily been welcomed. He noted some of the applicants today with single family residence being built 30 feet from a property for one home and having resistance against that. He said density is a valid question and the Applicant is trying to figure out what this will work for and where it will work, and Chair Ressler isn't sure it's Orono. He said the way it was guided was perhaps more units, but also perhaps more centralized and they've seen other concept plans(preliminary)which were proposed and after the Commission's feedback they haven't worked out because it centralizes the units which gives Page 24 of 27