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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br />May 15, 2023 <br />6:00 o'clock p.m. <br />Kirchner moved, Libby seconded, to approve LA23-000017 Murphy & CO. Design, 746 Tonkawa <br />Road, Variances for Hardcover, Driveway Width, and Rear Yard Setback as presented. VOTE: <br />Ayes: 7, Nays 0. <br />PUBLIC HEARINGS <br />2. LA23-000011 MATTHEW AND SUSANNE JOHNSON, 1015 WILDHURST TRAIL, <br />SUBDIVISION/PRELIMINARY PLAT <br />City Planner Curtis gave a presentation on the item, stating it is a 9.29 acre parcel near Saga Hill Park <br />Preserve. A recent administrative boundary line adjustment moved the eastern property line to west. The <br />proposal is for two lots where half acres is the density guide. An outlot would serve as access to both <br />properties with a private shared drive off of Wildhurst Trail. The property would be served by City sewer <br />and private wells. Minnehaha Creek Watershed District has said this proposal as a two -lot design does not <br />trigger their stormwater rules. Hennepin County has reviewed and did not have any comments. Access to <br />both properties would be through an outlot so an easement and maintenance agreement for the shared <br />private drive should be required. No public comments have been received. Staff recommends approval of <br />the preliminary plat. Curtis noted the applicant is present. <br />Matt Johnson, 1003 Wildhurst Trail, the abutting property, said he is the applicant. There is a purchaser <br />for the north property, lot one, and he is purchasing lot two. He said the plan is about half the density that <br />is allowable there, but they were trying to keep the lots bigger. The sewer line will come down the outlot. <br />According to Johnson, lot one had an existing house on the southeast corner and it is the intension of the <br />buyer to build in the same area. There are no development plans for lot two at this time, so no pad <br />location is indicated. <br />Chair Bollis opened the public hearing at 6:14 p.m. <br />Barbara Schmidt, 50 Landmark Drive, said over the weekend she downloaded the agenda and this item <br />was not under public hearings so it was misleading and neighbors did not get proper notice that it would <br />be a public hearing. <br />Curtis said the legal notice in the newspaper and the web site was correct. <br />Oakden said it was her understanding that the item was linked to the PDF and available on the website so <br />the information was published. <br />Chair Bollis closed the public hearing at 6:16 p.m. <br />The Commissioners discussed the item. Libby said he thought this was a very comprehensive review and <br />he supports that in Orono applicants can come in with a sketch plan in the early stages. He said he did not <br />see any reason to delay as he is very familiar with precedent in such cases and this was done thoroughly <br />and transparently. <br />Ressler said the packet had a great deal of information with comprehensive research and everything in the <br />packet makes sense. He said he can't think of anything that would allow him to reject or deny the <br />preliminary plat application as it is well though -out. <br />Page 2 of 5 <br />