Orono_Route_Permit_Application - Docket # W002/TL-11-223

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, December 13, 2010 7:00 o'clock p.m. (12. #10-3486 XCEL ENERGY, 3960 SIXTHA VENUE NORTH, Continued) expansion and that the people of the City Council and Staff are the experts on the Community Management Plan. The homeowners association is requesting the City Council not relinquish their responsibility to the citizens by referring this to the PUC. This expansion would diminish their property values. The homeowners association is not going to tell Xcel where to build but they would like Xcel to consider alternative routes. Peter Schoon, 994 Hunt Farm Road, indicated he was shocked by this project. The proposed towers and substation are rather monumental. Schoon displayed some pictures of their neighborhood with some 110 foot poles superimposed on the pictures. Schoon pointed out that one of these towers would be in his back yard. The poles are also rather substantial in diameter and would be within 120 feet of the current smaller wood poles in his back yard. Xcel is proposing a row of thee towers across the wetland. These towers would negatively impact the wetlands, the wildlife in the area, their quality of life, and from an aesthetic point of view, the equipment would destroy the area. Schoon indicated a number of different types of wildlife live in the area and he has a substantial number of photographs of the wildlife in the two and a half acre area. The noise output is approximately 60 bp, which is equivalent to running a vacuum cleaner. Schoon stated this is a land use issue and that he would request the City Council retain their authority over this issue and not surrender it to the state. Curtis displayed an aerial photograph of the area and the existing power lines. Peter Dassel, Hunt Farm Road, stated he just moved into his house in October and that he has had to replace the septic system, new roof, and he is now facing this issue. Dassel stated the impact to his property is not as great as some of the other neighbors, but that the City cannot abdicate the wetland issues to the states. Mattick indicated Staff is recommending that this application go to the PUC. The City would provide some input on the various issues, but that the PUC would decide the route. Dassel questioned whether this is the best route and, based upon the impact to the wetlands, there should be some alternatives. Xcel needs to demonstrate avoidance and minimization of the wetlands and in his opinion there are other options out there that are not being considered. Dassel suggested that perhaps a different parcel of land be considered for this expansion. Dassel stated based on a visual look, if the towers were located on the north side of 12, there would be less impact on the wetlands than on the south side of Highway 12. Dassel stated that impact could be borne out by a wetland delineation, which unfortunately cannot be accomplished until the spring sometime. Dassel requested the City Council give closer scrutiny to what is being proposed and the impacts to the neighbors. Bremer noted MN Rule 78.50, Subpart 6, would allow review by the City, but that in her view the City does not have enough regulations on the books currently to deal with all aspects of this project. Bremer asked what type of regulations the City has currently to deal with this type of project. Page 14 of 27