Laserfiche WebLink
Minutes <br />Planning Commission Regular Meeting <br />Monday, March 18, 2024, 6:00 PM <br />City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 <br /> <br /> <br />Page 1 of 4 <br /> <br />Chair Bollis called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. <br /> <br />1. ROLL CALL <br />Orono Planning Commission members present: Chair Chris Bollis, Commissioners Mark McCutcheon, <br />Jon Ressler and Bob Erickson. Commissioners Ted Schultze, Dennis Libby and Gary Kraemer were <br />absent. <br /> <br />Staff present: Community Development Director Laura Oakden, City Planner Melanie Curtis, and City <br />Planner Natalie Nye. <br /> <br />2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA <br /> <br />Ressler moved, McCutcheon seconded, to approve the Agenda. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. <br /> <br />3. APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 20, <br />2024 <br /> <br />Ressler moved, McCutcheon seconded, to approve the minutes of the Orono Planning Commission <br />meeting of February 20, 2024. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. <br /> <br />4. PUBLIC HEARINGS <br /> <br />4.1. LA24-000008, GreenWood Design Build – o/b/o Brenda Iverson, 1850 Lakeside Trail, variance. <br /> <br />The Planning Commission is requested to review the Staff report, receive a presentation, and discuss and <br />deny the resolution approving a variance for increasing the driveway width from 8 to 12 feet. <br /> <br />The Planning Commission discussed the item and asked questions of staff and the applicant, Doug <br />Cutting of GreenWood Design Build. <br /> <br />Chair Bollis opened the public hearing at 6:09 p.m. <br /> <br />There were no comments from the public. <br /> <br />Chair Bollis closed the public hearing at 6:09 p.m. <br /> <br />Commissioners discussed the request, noting that the width of the driveway area including the gavel at the <br />sides is already a 12-foot width so no further grading would be required next to the creek and although <br />they could see the reason for the staff recommendation to deny they could also see the safety reasons for a <br />wider driveway. It was noted many delivery trucks and most emergency vehicles have a wheelbase of <br />eight feet. It was suggested 10 feet might be reasonable as the drive is close to a creek and run-off needs <br />to be contained, but the commission was not asked to redesign the proposal. The drive is long, winds and <br />has changes in grade. <br /> <br />Ressler moved, Erickson seconded, to approve LA24-000008 as applied, 1850 Lakeside Trail, <br />Variance. VOTE: Ayes: 3, Nays 1 (McCutcheon). <br /> <br />3