02-20-1991 Planning Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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t ' i' '. •r.-''’ PLANNING COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING HELD FEBRUARY 20, 1991 Bob Biesterfeld stated that the City's first priority is to look out for the City of Orono. He said, "I agree with earlier comments about the City of Long Lake being the reason we are having so many problems with this project. Waen Long Lake decided to construct the new shopping center, they were only looking out f >r themselves, as it should be. Ttiey knew there would be a Highway 12 improvement at some point. In my opinion, they built the shopping center hoping that it v/ould be a detriment to putting the new corridor through their town. The City of Long Lake has made their bed and should lie in it." Steve Harris stated that he owns a business along Highway 169 in Eden Prairie, but lives in Orono. He said, "There is a certain price on a business, but there is an emotional price on a residence. It is much easier to relocate a business than to relocate your residence." Jackie Singer, 4295 Watertown Road, agreed with Mr. Harris's comments. She said, "There is no comparison when you talk about displacing hundreds of households and impacting our environment versus the impact on two or three blocks of business in Long Lake." Roberta Schmidt, 3980 Watertown Road, supported the notion of working with the City of Long Lake to relocate their downtown businesses. She said, "The City of Long Lake does have some historical buildings. We have Stubbs Building Movers. Perhaps those buildings would be an effective focal point for the new downtown area." Rowlette said, "Everyone I hope realizes that if downtown Long Lake were removed, it would be downtown Orono." Jacki Anderson, 2280 Fox Street, stated that it is important for everyone to view themselves as part of a larger picture. She said, "V/e are citizens of Orono, but also of the State of Minnesota. It is necessary for people to go through Orono to get to other places and we have to have a broader sense responsibility. I do not agree that a freeway is the answer, but realize that something has to be done. I do not mean to anger residents along Highway 12, but when they moved there they knew it would always be a busy highway. I do not think we should vote to have everything moved up to Highway 55 because the people in that area have the same concerns that we do." John Maresh, 2085 County Road 6, stated that many various groups have been organized to support and/or oppose a particular corridor location. He said, "That is all well and good, but everyone is missing one point. If the road is constructed anywhere in Orono it is going to divide the City and affect persons living miles away. Any major construction that takes place not only in Orono, but Long Lake, Medina, or Maple Plain, - 7 - M