11-09-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, October 26, 2020 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 3 of 7 There were no public comments. Mayor Walsh closed the public hearing at 6:18 p.m. Walsh moved, Johnson seconded, to adopt the attached Resolution providing for the certification of delinquent 2020 water and sewer utility charges, recycling program fees, on-site sewage treatment program, storm water charges to Hennepin County for collection of the 2021 Property Taxes. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. PLANNING DEPARTMENT REPORT 8. LA19-000048 – TIMOTHY WHITTEN O/B/O IRWIN JACOBS 2018 REV TRUST, 1700 SHORELINE DRIVE PRELIMINARY PLAT Mayor Walsh noted the Applicant has requested to table the measure, and asked if anyone would like to come up and discuss. Meredith Kuhlman, 1760 Shoreline Drive, lives west of the proposed development. She noted her father purchased the estate years ago, and it was made into three lots and the Kuhlmans decided to move to Orono because of the great schools and sprawling location. Ms. Kuhlman and her husband watched the last Council meeting and noted Mr. Whitten said he had talked to the neighbors about the development and that many are on board. She said they had not been approached or talked about the development at all and that the original average lakeshore setback (ALS) proposed affected the Kuhlman’s sightline to the lake. Ms. Kuhlman said they object to 5-7 houses being built, even though they will be beautiful, because if they had wanted to invest in a house in a neighborhood, they would have moved to Edina. She noted they tried to be very respectful of neighbors when they built their home and set it back into a hill. The fact that this development will be so densely populated is concerning and increasing traffic on Shoreline Drive adds to that. Ms. Kuhlman understands development of some sort will potentially be at the site, but noted the density of the current proposal as well as the fact that the communication hasn’t been forthright and neighborly. Carolyn Nelson, 1780 Shoreline Drive, lives next to the Kuhlmans; she noted three proposed houses are so close to the wetlands and she thinks it would be unfortunate if they were built there as there is not much of a setback. Ms. Nelson also noted they have trouble on the driveway and the developer better make sure the roads are wide enough to accommodate two delivery trucks passing one another. She believes they are crowding more houses into the space than they ought to. Bob Nelson, 1780 Shoreline Drive, said he doesn’t see why a variance should be granted as the developers know what the rules are and there doesn’t seem to be a reason for the Council to grant a variance. Barbara Burwell, 1100 Millston Road, is the property owner of 1125 and 1075 Shoreline Drive. She stated she appreciates the Councilmembers service to the community. Today she feels sad as they have already talked about the density and proposal but there have been some changes that have upset her. She is not for this subdivision with 7 lots and she understands there is a new proposal which she knows nothing about. She was offered the opportunity to walk the property with the staking of three houses and said it was very helpful but she did not see anything regarding the road, or Lots 4-7. On October 16, 2020 she was notified that the stakes were in place for the road and lots and went to the property on October 21, 5 5