01-17-2023 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION November 21, 2022 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 4 of 13 Curtis replied it is not part of the application. Ms. Schmidt stated it is super misleading and the public should know all that the previous commenter shared. She thinks for full disclosure it looks bad and they need to tell the public. Curtis noted the other property will be a public hearing when there is a subdivision application and will be a public process. Ms. Schmidt stated last year the Planning Commission was asked to vacate Lake Minnetonka public access lakeshore on Stubbs Bay and voted against it. Ultimately the City Council voted to vacate the land and it went to a sitting Planning Commissioner, Bob Erickson, for his own wealth and portfolio. This is a similar situation, it is not fair, and all citizens should have access to this type of vacation. If they are going to vacate this, it should be open to the public and they should ask all the neighbors if they want a piece of it. The question is whether this is in the best interest of the Orono citizens and that should be asked over and over in all of these deals. Several City officials and the DNR have said it is not in the best interest for Orono, both for Mr. Erickson’s deal and this deal. Many citizens voiced their concern that this is depleting public land assets and she would like to know how much public land has been given away since Mayor Walsh came into office. Privatizing lake access or land for one individual does not help all of them. The Planning Commission is being asked to vacate this land to benefit a sitting Orono City Council Member, Mr. Matt Johnson, for his own wealth portfolio. She asked the Commissioners to vote to benefit the Orono citizens and not just single individuals. Chair McCutcheon noted Commissioner Bollis must leave at this time (6:38 p.m.) and they have four Commissioners present which is a quorum. Carol Price, 2813 Casco Point Road, finds it extremely unfair that they are giving away land to an individual and whether they have good intentions or not, it is not for the benefit of the citizens of Orono. She would like the Planning Commission and City Council to take into account that they need some of these open spaces and access points. Over the years it does tend to creep in by the neighbors and pretty soon the access point is gone. Regarding a recent fire in her neighborhood, the fire department had a terrible time getting through the properties to put out a fire. The public needs to preserve these open areas and as a retired person on a fixed income, Ms. Price does not like giving away pieces of land. If the City wanted to sell this land it would make a different point for her and would be an open discussion. She said to sell these plots of land if they are thinking of tax implications but not to give them away. Ms. Price asked them to look judiciously at the access points they currently have because the City needs them for years to come and they cannot be short-sighted. Melissa Munsch, 1001 Wildhurst Trail, is next to the Applicant’s property and sent an email with concerns. She does not understand the overlying purpose of the Applicant’s use of land. The previous property owner never requested the vacation and if Mr. Johnson is planning to use the property for himself, she does not understand why he needs to make this request. Tom Fleck, 995 Wildhurst Trail, did not understand there was a lake access there but thinks they need to look to the future and what the City needs 50 or 100 years from now. If they give it up they are giving it up forever. Mr. Fleck does not know much about the project yet as he just received the package on Friday and he would like to learn more. He hopes the Commissioners can table it until he can learn more and speak with Mr. Johnson.