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ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION <br />MINUTES FOR DECEMBER 15,1997 <br />ROLL <br />The Orono Planning Commission met on the above date with the following members present: <br />Chair Dale Lindquist. Charles Schroeder, Sandra Smith, Elizabeth Hawn, William Stoddard, and <br />Lili McMillan. Janice Berg was absent. The following represented the City Staff: Senior Planning <br />Coordinator Michael Gaffron, Public Services Director Greg Gappa, City Planner Elizabeth Van <br />Zomeren, Planning Intern Brad Bressler, and Recorder Sherry Frost Park Commission Chair <br />Susan Wilson was present Chair Lindquist called the meeting to order at 6:37 p m <br />The agenda was placed in priority order for discussion and was reviewed in the following order: <br />#1.3.? 5. 4. 7. and 6. <br />(#1) AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NAVARRE UPDATE <br />Bressler reviewed additional information to the Navarre Housing Repoit on affordable housing in <br />both Navarre and the City of Orono. The Met Council's standard for affordable housing fot 1997 <br />was a maximum of $120,000, based on 30% of an average family's income for housing It was <br />determined that 75% of housing is considered affordable under this guideline by the assessed <br />value and 76% under market valuations of homes in Navarre. <br />Bressler reviewed the sub-areas. He noted the average property value in Navarre is assessed at <br />$107,000 and at $227,000 for the City at large There are 183 affordable housing units in <br />Navarre, which is 6.5% of the total housing in the City. <br />Lindquist asked what will be done with this information. Bressler said it has been presented to <br />Council. It will be used in the Comprehensive Plan update and for application for grants for <br />housing rehabilitation, such as the CDBG grant funding. <br />Schroeder asked if the Planning Commission would review the Comprehensive Plan update. <br />Gaffron indicated that the Commission would be involved in the process. The update is to be <br />completed by the end of 1998 as mandated bv the Met Council. Gaffron said the Council feels <br />there are minor changes necessary in the aieas of housing and transportation <br />Schroeder asked if there were expectations from Orono by the Met Council. Gaffron said he <br />received information on population and housing for the future from the Met Council. The forecast <br />received is not based on the needs outlined by the City. <br />Hawn asked if the housing in the affordable level was suitable for a family of four. Bressler said <br />the results are varying. Gaffron said according to the Met Council, 30% of housing in Orono is <br />considered affordable housing. The benchmark for cities of Orono's size is 60-70%, which is not <br />possible in Orono The percentage was based on a review of m? ny cities. Schroeder noted that <br />most suburban communities have sewers Gaffron said there ar>'' a lot of differences between <br />Orono and other similarly sized communities. Lindquist noted tho difficulty in comparing Orono to <br />other cities McMillan indicated that the lake was a large reason for the difference. <br />Stoddard said he was surprised by the low evaluations In areas and II. which include lake shore <br />properties Bressler said these areas include smaller cabins thr,t are being torn down and rebuilt <br />with larger homes.