11-17-2025 - Minutes - Planning Commission - PC minutes Nov

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Minutes Planning Commission Regular Meeting Monday, November 17, 2025, 6:00 PM City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 Betsy Nusbaum, 3480 North Shore Drive, indicated the neighbor's supported improvement at the site but strongly oppose changes that support industrial use, and sought a requirement that the County be required to adequately manage the site and remove garbage. They are also concerned about parking that impinges on their own property and lakeshore access. She had a letter with 40 signatures. Gabriel Jabbour, 985 Tonkawa Rd., said he believes in public and recreational access as the State Constitution designates water as public. However, he called the proposed plan the vision of one man and over -ambitious and over -reaching. The trees that are proposed to be removed serve as a sound and visual buffer. He also expressed concern about commercial and industrial use, which makes it a dangerous situation for the public who wants to use the access. Jet ski and boat rental also use the site, and boats are being repaired, fueled, and having oil changed at the launch. He said the garbage is not controlled adequately by the County, and he carries a pitchfork in his vehicle to clean up around the dumpster. The County needs to provide another launch site for commercial and industrial uses. Amy Herman, 3825 Cherry Ave., noted this is a big issue for the neighborhood. She said the plan is not ready. She supports recreational use but would want to make sure the ADA lift is maintained and that the other governmental agencies have the opportunity to weigh in. She called the parking lot expansion and lighting excessive. Kristi Anderson, 1408 Baldur Park Rd, is concerned about light pollution in her backyard and traffic entering and exiting, and safety for people putting in canoes and paddleboards. She said the site accesses a narrow and crowded channel. The County's other launch in Spring Park is appropriate for commercial use. Eric Evenson, Executive Director of the Lake Minnetonka Association and a former planner with another city, said the association supports a better recreational and handicapped access at the North Arm launch, but some of the proposed changes have implications lake -wide. He contended that there are DNR, federal grant funding, and Three Rivers policies limiting commercial access and that the City does have a great deal of latitude when a variance is requested. He does not see anything in the plan that would reduce the non -conformity or anything that supports a practical difficulty. Actual problems at the site can be addressed without variances. There are no advantages to the City in vacating the easement. Mixing recreational and commercial/industrial use creates opportunities for conflict and accidents. He discussed the criteria for an attractive nuisance and said mixed use would put the City and the County at risk for liability. Ritchie Anderrson, 3205 Crystal Bay Rd, said the North Arm ramp has turned into a war zone with the amount of traffic and conflicting uses. He also mentioned the garbage problem and the lack of control from the County, along with the expectation that Orono Police control the site. He also said the City should not consider vacating its easement. Chair Bollis closed the public hearing at 8:06 p.m. The commission asked additional questions of the Hennepin County representatives, including an explanation of the lighting plan, community outreach, licensing requirements, and plans to re-establish the tree buffer. Page 2 of 6