07-12-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, June 21, 2021 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 6 density requirements. The City of Orono has done the best they can to maintain the character of the City but when they have these density requirements they run out of areas where they can do developments like these. He asked what part of the building, or if it is the entire building, that is above the 30 foot height. Barnhart replied 30 feet 9 inches is the defined height which looks at the highest adjacent grade (1,018 feet on this property) and then identify the lowest floor of the building and add 10 feet. So whichever is lowest is what they pick. The lowest floor of this building is the garage, so that is the starting point and then they measure to the top of the flat roof of the building. Todd Mohegan, Mohegan Architectural Group, 1000 Twelve Oaks Center Drive, Wayzata, is the architect for the project. He noted regarding the height there was a lot of discussion in the Planning Commission and the City Council and the Applicant was making efforts to get to the height that Council was okay with. Ressler asked if this project is able to be constructed and still map out at 30 feet. Mr. Mohegan replied it is always a possibility but it reduces the livability of the space. Libby asked the ceiling heights in the interior units. Mr. Mohegan answered they will be around 8 feet 6 inches, 8 foot 9 inches. Libby asked if there is nothing from an architectural design standpoint that could remedy the 9 inches over the 30 foot standard. Mr. Mohegan said with difficulty; it is all about running ductwork, electrical, and those things and 8 feet 9 inches is seen as a minimum for people. The lower the ceiling gets the less desirable it is. Gettman clarified they could have an 8 foot space and then have the mechanicals above that, and asked if that is correct. Mr. Mohegan replied one could. Vice Chair Ressler opened the public hearing at 6:31 p.m. Michael Ricks, 2108 Sugarwood Drive, would be directly north and adjacent to the building. Regarding the 30 foot building height, he asked if that is 30 feet above the parking lot or the lowest grade of where the property is cut out. Barnhart replied looking at the north elevation and starting at the level 1 floor, the top of the structure is 30 feet 4 inches. Mr. Ricks said today they look at an eyesore as it has been for a dozen years and was a failed project involving fraud. To get something in there would be understandable and probably better than looking at a dilapidated foundation. He noted there are obviously some concerns and height has been an issue. Regarding trees, there is a boulder wall on the north and east side of the property with a small berm on topo and asked if that is where the trees will go. He planted pine trees on Sugarwood to provide screening