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Minutes <br />Planning Commission Regular Meeting <br />Monday, May 20, 2024, 6:00 PM <br />City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 <br /> <br /> <br />Page 2 of 3 <br /> <br />McCutcheon moved, Schultze seconded, to approve LA24-000017, 1090 Wildhurst Trail Variances <br />as applied. VOTE: Ayes: 6, Nays 0. <br /> <br />6.2. LA24-000022 AMY YANIK, 1355 VINE PLACE, VARIANCE <br /> <br />The Planning Commission is requested to review the Staff report, receive a presentation, and discuss and <br />approve the requested variance. <br /> <br />The Planning Commission discussed the item and had no additional questions for staff or the applicant, <br />Amy Yanik, 1355 Vine Place who was present. <br /> <br />Chair Ressler opened the public hearing at 6:11 p.m. <br /> <br />There were no public comments. <br /> <br />Chair Ressler closed the public hearing at 6:11 p.m. <br /> <br />Commissioners pointed out the new deck would be an in-kind replacement if it were not for making the <br />new railing higher to meet building codes. <br /> <br />McCutcheon moved, Libby seconded, to approve LA24-000022, 1355 Vine Place Variance as <br />applied. VOTE: Ayes: 6, Nays 0. <br /> <br />6.3. LA24-000023 JOANNA HEINEN o/b/o KASEY LYNN JONES, 884 DAKOTA AVE., <br />VARIANCES <br /> <br />The Planning Commission is requested to review the Staff report, receive a presentation, and discuss and <br />deny the requested variances. <br /> <br />The Planning Commission discussed the item and asked questions of staff and Joanna Heinen on behalf <br />of the applicant. <br /> <br />Chair Ressler opened the public hearing at 6:26 p.m. <br /> <br />There were no public comments. <br /> <br />Chair Ressler closed the public hearing at 6:26 p.m. <br /> <br />Commissioners expressed support for the applicant’s goal of conserving the trees even though keeping the <br />trees is not considered a practical difficulty, but suggested they have an expert assess the impact of the <br />proposed new construction on the trees. They noted that the fact that the existing auxiliary structures <br />would be removed would improve the situation and improve setbacks. They said it looked like there <br />would be opportunities to relocate the building in places that could eliminate the need for a variance and <br />still save the trees. For that reason, a practical difficulty has not been established since it is not a situation <br />where it was demonstrated that nothing else can be done. Commissioners explained tabling the request <br />would add another month to the process but a denial could go forward to the City Council with potential <br />revisions. <br />4