10/18/1993 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 0 HELD OCTOBER 18, 1993 ( #9) #1884 ORVILLE FISHER - CONT. compensate for the large trees taken out and to plant understory so as to duplicate or improve what existed prior to the clear cutting. This plan should be complete prior to the next Council meeting so the plantings can be done as soon as possible this fall. Ayes 6, nays 0. Huff commented that the Hennepin Soils office has criteria that has been established on a buffer strip that may be helpful. ( #7) #1882 JOHN M. O'SULLIVAN /O'SULLIVAN'S 2420 SHADYWOOD ROAD - COMMERCIAL SITE PLAN REVIEW - PUBLIC HEARING 10:15 P.M. - 10:55 P.M. The Affidavit of Publication and Certificate of Mailing were noted. John O'Sullivan was present. Gaffron explained that in 1987 the City did a commercial site plan review for this property. One of the City's requirements was that a fire lane be established. It was brought to the attention of the building inspector by the Orono police that the fire lane is not accomplishing what it was intended to do. The building inspector has required that the property owner stripe and mark the fire lane. The property owner feels he should not be required to do so. This application is essentially a request for an amendment to the commercial site plan approved previously. Schroeder asked why this application was before the Planning Commission. Gaffron explained that it is part of the appeal process stated in the Code when the applicant does not want to comply with City requirements. Because Mound is a contract city, the appeal process is to the City Council, not to the State Fire Marshal. O'Sullivan gave a summary of his position on how this situation came about. He noted in February of 1988 he was given a permit that stated he complied with all conditions. He indicated there never has been any striping or signage indicating a fire lane and he has operated 5 1/2 years without these. O'Sullivan continued that on July 15, 1993 an Orono police officer tagged one of O'Sullivan's employees for parking a motorcycle in the storefront, and that the employee told the officer that other officers have stopped at the station and said they would not tag anyone for parking there and it wasn't a legal fire lane. O'Sullivan noted that the citation ended up being revoked but it became an issue with the Chief, and this resulted in a letter from Stephen Sullivan, Chief of Police, to O'Sullivan, dated July 28, 1993. (O'Sullivan gave copies of this letter to Planning Commission members.) 0 16