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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, July 27, 2015 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />__________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 9 of 29 <br /> <br />6. #15-3744 JOHN BRUNELLO, 190 ORONO ORCHARD ROAD SOUTH, <br />VARIANCES – RESOLUTION NO. 6527 (continued) <br /> <br />Rokke stated there are dozens more trees in the right-of-way that also do not show up on the <br />survey. Rokke indicated his point is that it is his belief there will be at least 20 significant trees <br />damaged or destroyed by the building plan as shown. In addition, the turnaround for the <br />driveway will be within feet of the 150-year-old oak tree and the driveway will eliminate two 75- <br />year-old trees. Rokke stated research says that an oak tree has a root system that is sometimes <br />four times as large as the crown of the tree, which means that the whole front part of the property <br />is all crown oaks. Rokke stated as a result, every tree on this piece of property will be affected <br />and there will be at least 20 or more trees that will be lost or likely lost due to root damage. <br /> <br />Sally Kerr Ekstrom stated when she and her husband purchased that house, it was due to the <br />magnificent trees and the view of the golf course. Ekstrom stated when they got ready to sell <br />their house in 1976, they wanted to put an addition on the back of our house but that Orono said <br />no because it was marsh land. Ekstrom stated the house as proposed will be right over that piece <br />of property and that she would encourage the City Council to reconsider. Ekstrom stated it is a <br />beautiful piece of property and deserves something a little bit nicer than what is being proposed. <br /> <br />Delaney stated she hopes the applicants have to replace some of the trees with larger specimens <br />since it would be a good buffer to her house. <br /> <br />John Brunello, Applicant, stated there are a lot of trees on the property and that it is not <br />customary to include every tree on the survey. Brunello stated as far as the driveway is <br />concerned, before they came up with the footprint for the house, they had to consider the location <br />of the driveway. By putting the garage on the other side, it would force a house with a tuck- <br />under garage due to the elevation, which is something he would not do on an expensive house. <br />Brunello stated they also looked at locating the driveway off of Orono Orchard Road but that it is <br />rather steep and would not be a workable plan. Brunello stated they designed it so the driveway <br />comes around the house and enters the way it is depicted. <br /> <br />Brunello noted initially they came in for a variance for a setback but that the City has since asked <br />them to provide four elevations. Brunello stated in essence, when you have four elevations, you <br />are designing a house, and that he does not want to design a house for a variance he does not <br />have yet. Brunello stated he was forced to quickly design a house so everyone can see what is <br />being proposed and that it normally takes weeks or months to design a proper house. Brunello <br />indicated what is being shown is a simplified design of what they want. <br /> <br />Brunello indicated they will save what trees they can. Brunello stated he has built in Wayzata a <br />lot and that he has saved plenty of trees there. Brunello stated the City Council can drive by <br />those houses and they will see 100-year-old trees within feet of the homes. Brunello stated <br />removing trees is expensive and that they will not just start cutting trees down but some trees <br />will need to be removed because of the driveway.