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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday,September 21,2020 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> intentions are of the City to achieve as many units as possible,while at the same time can they offset the <br /> setbacks and come up with a building layout that is not directly exposed to those two streets(which they <br /> did),and in order to enhance and protect the safety of what Mr. Libby said,they have nice ornamental <br /> fencing,with nice piers,columns, entry features and brick monuments on all corners of the property. He <br /> noted they are respecting conditions by bringing in a product that will support that corner,and they may <br /> be able to play with the topline area and bring them inside what Mr.Barnhart is recommending. If they <br /> work with the certain setbacks,this project will work;however, if they stick by the book of 15 feet, 50 <br /> feet and 50 feet,the project is dead. He noted that is where they are at today,and it would be nice if after <br /> the meeting he could go back to the team and say they have some direction. <br /> Kirchner asked regarding the side portion along 40 and 43: if they did away with it and did not count it as <br /> recreational space,would they still meet the 10%. <br /> Rausch said they'd be about 3,000-3,500 feet short. <br /> Kirchner said right alongside those buildings, it's not really something the people residing there would <br /> view as a public space,but rather viewed as the side to a building or side-yard. He would appreciate a bit <br /> more thought as to how they can incorporate a little more square footage that way. <br /> Mr. Saddiqui said to open up the thought process of what was initially proposed or thought, as to the very <br /> high density...they were very skeptical if it was going to work in this location with the number of units <br /> because they were going down to 60% of what was proposed. If they are going to stick with some of <br /> those side-yard scenarios, it would shrink significantly. <br /> Chair Ressler stated Orono and Burnsville are probably different,and Orono prides itself as a rural area, <br /> although it is becoming more dense,which is something requested by the Met Council, and it hasn't <br /> necessarily been welcomed. He noted some of the applicants today with single family residence being <br /> built 30 feet from a property for one home and having resistance against that. He said density is a valid <br /> question and the Applicant is trying to figure out what this will work for and where it will work, and <br /> Chair Ressler isn't sure it's Orono. He said the way it was guided was perhaps more units,but also <br /> perhaps more centralized and they've seen other concept plans(preliminary)which were proposed and <br /> after the Commission's feedback they haven't worked out because it centralizes the units which gives <br /> more green space and softens the approach,which the Commission likes. At the same time,by not <br /> centralizing and reducing the number of units, it can also be a burden because in this case they're <br /> spreading out the units and the total is less,but the effect is more because they're not centralized. Chair <br /> Ressler tries to stay open-minded because this is a new concept and new concepts have followed trends <br /> and that is how they get established. He knows it's difficult to see and while looking at the plan, it looks <br /> daunting as there is no softening or trees proposed. To summarize, Wayzata Boulevard is a very busy <br /> road and represents Orono...he thinks the 50 foot setback is probably his feedback for that area. He noted <br /> 36 feet is agreeable on Kelley Parkway and Willow Drive,reluctantly. To summarize, because they're <br /> talking about less units but more sprawl,he'd like to see a larger setback and that may be a problem for <br /> the development,but that is his personal perspective. <br /> Gettman noted what the Applicant is hearing loud and clear is that the concept of setbacks, and he asked <br /> if they can put a different type of unit with the other units. Specifically,can they mix a higher density <br /> building within there somewhere,especially as they play around with the outlot,and even potentially with <br /> commercial on the first floor and units above. Rather than trying to shove or piecemeal things around,he <br /> Page 4 of 6 <br />