Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Tuesday,March 15,2021 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Mr. Bollis said that is probably the only vehicle access on Big Island where one can drive from the ice or <br /> from a barge right up on there. He noted they have used that for septic pumping,well drilling,and in 2005 <br /> (he thinks)there was a big fire on the south end of the island and they hauled in fire departments,pumps, <br /> food, bobcats, and it was a big problem. He wants to say that the access by 460 Big Island should not be <br /> considered as a dockage area because it is the only spot one can get on the island with any size of a vehicle <br /> to do the service work that is required. <br /> Ted Hanna,480 Big Island, said that however many years ago this thing was platted out—the spirit of the <br /> whole plat to allow people access to their interior lots—he thinks that is something that should be considered <br /> for future use,as well. As Ms. Fames said,they combined a bunch of lots so it cut it down but there could <br /> have been a bunch more people there asking for it. He thinks that was the spirit of the whole thing,to have <br /> roads and not just for fire access. <br /> Chair Ressler closed the public hearing at 6:59 p.m. <br /> Ressler noted this is a tough one. <br /> Kirchner said first and foremost from what they have heard at the public hearing, he does not believe that <br /> there is ill-intent upon the Applicant to revoke the existing permit 2038. He does not believe that was the <br /> intent but is just an unfortunate wording. Regarding the permit, he noted Staff, City Council, and City <br /> Attorney could have further discussion on this - he does see at the bottom it states that the City of Orono <br /> further reserves the right to review this permit for any reason as deemed appropriate. Kirchner would say <br /> this would qualify as a reason to review it rather than to automatically revoke it. Therefore,that may give <br /> some leeway and some time. He agrees with Ressler's remarks that this is not a black and white,just <br /> because there has been an application there should be a revocation of this permit. With that said, he <br /> appreciates the Applicant's due diligence in exploring options, speaking with City Staff, evaluating those <br /> options,asking for easements,and speaking with the Three Rivers Park District. Where Kirchner struggles <br /> with this application is that he feels this could potentially create a bit of a ripple effect, in that if the City <br /> will allow this for one lot,will it produce other similar applications. In that case,he believes that perhaps <br /> there needs to be a larger scale approach to this, to find a solution if a dock is deemed appropriate, rather <br /> than try to band-aid this several times over the next many years. That is Kirchner's biggest hang-up, and <br /> he is concerned that by allowing one parcel this, it merely kicks the can down the road. He thinks there <br /> needs to be a larger evaluation of this to find any potential solutions and work at it on a larger scale. <br /> Libby said there was quite a bit of material given to the Commission fairly late in the game so it took him <br /> a while to actually read through some of this and it was very interesting. As they were listening to the cases <br /> of the property owners,there seems to be a reason for him to ask Staff a question. He noted there was a <br /> submission by Aleya Champlin, 210 Big Island, which is very detailed. Having had many, many years <br /> working with LMCD and MCWD (Minnehaha Creek Watershed District), he is quite familiar with their <br /> authority and functionality. He does not know how to ask this any other way than to ask Staff if they have <br /> known that whether one of the MCWD functional assessments of wetlands has actually been performed on <br /> this public access they are talking about. <br /> Curtis brought up Hennepin County's wetland map. <br /> Libby stated the information provided to the Planning Commission is quite well-delineated and is very <br /> specific in the categorical classification. He said he is bringing this up as a point of information. He has <br /> about 30 years of living on the lakeshore and having the blessing of having a dock and owning lakeshore, <br /> Page 10 of 34 <br />