11-15-2021 Planning Commission Packet

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L49 Project Narrative Metropolitan Council Environmental Services For 3447 Crystal Bay Rd Orono, MN 55391 The Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES), operator of the metro area wastewater collection and treatment system, is scheduled to make improvements to its "L49" Lift Station, located adjacent to Shadywood Road and Crystal Bay Road. Lift stations are a critical component of sanitary sewer service in Orono,taking wastewater from local residents and businesses and pumping it to the regional sewer that delivers it to the Blue Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant on the Minnesota River. The scheduled improvements will enhance the system's efficiency and reliability and improve site safety for L49 employees and the public. This project is part of the broader Facility Plan for the Lake Minnetonka service area,which serves communities within Hennepin and Carver County.This plan helps MCES maintain operational reliability, preserve regional assets, and protect the environment through replacement and rehabilitation of aging infrastructure. Planned improvements to L49 include: • Relocation of the existing below-ground station to the south and east out of City Right of Way and onto the adjacent MCES-owned parcel (PID: 1711723430122),to improve site safety; • Necessary upgrades to pumping capacity; • Installation of a backup generator to prevent service disruption; • • A new building to house and protect electrical and control systems; • Inclusion of pervious rock trench to aid in site stormwater management. L49 has been mindfully designed and sited to ensure minimal visual impacts or disruptions to the surrounding neighborhood. Careful steps have been taken to design a station with a minimal profile, sufficient setbacks from adjacent homes, materials and design consistency with surrounding architecture, and unobtrusive external features, including a safety entry gate located at the front of driveway which will be less than 4ft in height. The parcel located at 3447 Crystal Bay Rd is zoned as LR-1C Lakeshore Residential District.As noted in Orono's Zoning Code (Sec 78-328(7)), public service structures are considered conditional uses within the LR-1C district, provided: • Such structures are located at least 50ft from adjacent residentially zoned properties, and; • The design of such structures is compatible with the design of the surrounding area. As shown in the included L49 MCES Site Sheets and L49 MCES Lift Station Building Design& Plans, MCES has ensured both criteria are sufficiently met to meet the requirements for a conditional use. Further, the parcel is already owned by MCES and is necessary to accommodate the critical infrastructure system that L49 will exist within, and has a lot area unable to accommodate a residential use-the current lot area of.22 acres is below the .5 acre lot area minimum requirements for LR-1C parcels, as outlined in Orono's Zoning Code (Sec 78-350(a)).