01-24-2000 Council Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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As the rural area has developed over the last two decades, particularly in north central Orono. land values have skyrocketed, driven bv market demand for the rural lifestyle provided bv low-densitv development. The resulting conversion of farmsteads into primarily higher value single family neighborhoods, has occured at a rate that iust keeps UP with demand. New rural lot developments are typically sold out within the first year. This ongoing demand has made it difficult to acquire land at prices that would allow For development of affordable housing without conversion to urban densities. Clearly, the needs for affordable and lifecycle housing will not be met in Orono's rural area. Orono has acknowledged the need for a wider range of housing alternatives, both within Orono and within the Lake Minnetonka area, and has taken steps to provide new locations for development of urban density housing where it will not be in conflict with the rural area. These areas will be rezoned to allow for appropriate urban housing densities and will become a part of Orono's urban serv’ice area. Orono's land use plan calls for development in both the urban and the rural portions of the City. The urban area will see new residential development on the existing vacemt lots and undeveloped parcels similar to the forms of development projected for typical of the closer-in suburbs. Opportunities exist for substantial rehabilitation projects in the older urban neighborhoods and for scattered-site new construction of subsidized affordable and lifecvclc housing units. Overall urban density will remain relatively low because of the ecological considerations of proximity to Lake Minnetonka. New areas proposed for urban development located primarily outside of the defined Shoreland area will be developed at densities ranging from 1 to 4 or more units per acre, commensurate with the City's identified need for a wider ranue of housing alternatives to serve an expandinu ramie of housing needs. The rural area will sec continued residential development at a steady pace with most land divisions resultinu in the creation of 3-8 lots being of the t\w to four lot variety. Strict subdivision review will ensure adequate retention of privately owned and maintained open space, wetland conservation, and on-site sewage treatment system site evaluation. Scattered rural rehabilitations will be necessary on the older homes and cottages in certain existing rural housing clusters. The typical rural lot will continue to provide modera te income alternative a hiuhlv desirable lifestyles as the low investment in public scr\ ices continues to make the land competitive with more fully developed suburban properties. I I 1 I I I I I I C.MP 3C - 5