04-12-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, March 15, 2021 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 3 6. LA21-000021 JOHN NEWELL, 1485 6TH AVE N, PRELIMINARY PLAT (STAFF: JEREMY BARNHART) John Newell, Applicant, was present. Staff presented a summary packet of information. In front of the Commission is a proposal for a three-lot subdivision to take the existing 24-acre parcel, split it into three buildable lots and one outlot for a road. This project was the subject of a sketch plan about a year ago and the project is fairly consistent with that sketch plan. Barnhart highlighted the access for the project would be off of County Road 6 and Hennepin County has provided some comment as to what they would like to see in terms of additional right-of-way. It seems to him that they are accepting the location as proposed, though they may require some work near the right-of-way to preserve a site visibility issue. Staff supports the project subject to Hennepin County approval of the access. Staff has also reviewed it from a City Engineering standpoint and provided some commentary in terms of additional changes primarily related to storm water management. Staff recommends approval subject to those conditions also. All three lots will be consistent with the City’s zoning ordinance in terms of lot area and lot width; all three lots have adequate sites for a new home in character with the neighborhood, and for two septic sites located for each lot. Staff suggested that approval would be subject to identification of those septic sites. Each lot will be served by an on-site well. During the sketch plan process the Commission had some comments about connecting to the sanitary sewer. Staff does not recommend it as a requirement, although it is certainly feasible, because it is not immediately adjacent to the property. Generally, they require sanitary sewer to be immediately adjacent to the property before instituting a requirement to connect to that. Each lot meets the minimum size requirements for dry buildable area and meets the lot width requirements in terms of the requirements for the zoning district. For Lots 1 and 3, the measurement will be off the new road outlot A, and Lot 2 frontage will be based on the distance at the building setback and does meet those requirements. Staff has asked for confirmation for that number, as Staff’s computation came out above 235 feet and they would like verification for that. The Applicant has provided a storm water management proposal that the City Engineer provided comment on; they also expect the Watershed District to provide some additional comment. There are a number of basins or infiltration areas scattered throughout the development and the unique feature of this project is that throughout the area is Long Lake Creek which is a tributary to Long Lake. That water has been identified as impaired and is part of the strategy of the Watershed District to improve water quality of the Long Lake Watershed District. Barnhart would imagine the Watershed District will have some comments coming in terms of recommended conditions so Staff has tagged on to those and suggests approval subject to the Watershed District comments as they complete their review. The project provides a landscaping plan based on the length of the road. Previously in the City’s rural areas, they have tried clumping of trees rather than a suburban, tree every 40 foot on center, and the plan reflects that goal. Planning Staff is recommending approval of the project subject to four conditions: 1. City Engineer comments 2. Hennepin County approval 3. Watershed District approval 4. Confirmation of two conforming septic sites for each lot. John Newell, 1485 County Road 6, stated they have hired someone to come in and verify those two septic locations on both lots and that has been done. There are some hoops to deal with regarding the Watershed District and Mr. Newell is working with them at this point in time. They have requests for an easement across Lot 1 in order to be able to access the pond; he has already given them full access and he thinks it was applied for back in 1995 and never followed through on. Mr. Newell thinks the documentation is LA21-21 Council Exhibit C