Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,May 18,2015 <br /> 6:30 dclock p.m. <br /> Stickney stated any development he has ever presented has been over and above what is required and that <br /> the idea is to make this a beautiful development while preserving as many of the natural features of the <br /> site as possible. Stickney noted he even went to the extent of saving some of the pines and willows at the <br /> entrance to the development. Stickney stated the road in some areas has 11 inches of asphalt and that the <br /> proposed located is a good place for the road. Stickney stated another goal is not to put a lot of trees up in <br /> the prairie. <br /> Lemke asked what percentage of trees will be removed from the Big Woods canopy. <br /> Stickney indicated they would lose 141 trees out of 1,435 trees, with at least 8 percent of those trees not <br /> doing that welL Stickney noted there are a number of downed trees and that in his view the tree <br /> replacement plan will preserve the wooded area as well as help screen the houses. Stickney stated the <br /> idea is to make this development as nice as possible and increase the tax base of this property to over <br /> $300,000. Stickney stated Orono is a special place for him and that he would not do anything that would <br /> be detrimental to it. <br /> Thiesse asked where he is planning to put the additional trees if the tree replacement is two for one. <br /> Stickney stated there are some areas on the site where more trees could be planted. Stickney indicated <br /> there is a 60-foot side boundary on each side lot as well as a 90-foot boundary and a special outlot to keep <br /> things away and preserved. Stickney indicated he also has a no-touch zone where no homes will be <br /> constructed. Stickney stated there are also open areas on every lot but that he wants to give everyone who <br /> purchases a lot a head start on the trees. <br /> Thiesse asked if there is covenant control over whether someone wants a bigger lot at some point in the <br /> future. <br /> Stickney indicated there is. <br /> Thiesse noted some of the replacement trees are listed as conifers. Thiesse asked if that would be allowed <br /> in the middle of Big Woods. <br /> Svoboda stated part of the nature of maple-basswood forests is that they generate a chemical compound <br /> and do not like outside competitors. Svoboda stated when you look at the understory of a maple- <br /> basswood forest, all you will see are more maple trees coming in. That is a result of the roots exuding a <br /> chemical into the soil. Svoboda stated that may not necessarily be a suitable environment for conifer trees <br /> and that the best remedy would be to continue to replant maple and basswood trees to maintain the <br /> character and consistency of that community and to continue to propagate the maple and basswood trees. <br /> Leskinen stated in the first discussion at the sketch plan phase, there was talk about pulling the cul-de-sac <br /> down, which has occurred. Leskinen indicated she has walked the entire property and noticed that where <br /> the prairie ends and the woods begin there is a farm road or path. Leskinen asked if there is any particular <br /> reason why that was not considered for the road rather than the cul-de-sac going into the trees. Leskinen <br /> stated there are some real natural openings in there for those two lots. <br /> Thiesse stated it would be the south side of Block 2. <br /> Page 15 of 37 <br />