05-09-2016 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, May 9, 2016 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 11 of 28 10. #16-3822 LAKEWEST DEVELOPMENT, 3245 WAYZATA BOULEVARD WEST – PRELIMINARY PLAT/RPUD REZONING/COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT (continued) Walsh stated the letter in his view does not say a definite no to the two access points. Walsh asked whether Staff has had conversations where Hennepin County is saying no but making the language softer in the letter. Gaffron stated the discussion he has had with them verbally is that they do not want a second access, and if the developer wants to propose a second access, Hennepin County will place a number of restrictions on it. Gaffron noted Hennepin County will also be redoing this section of the road in 2019. Walsh stated the other question he had relates to the second part of the site. Walsh asked whether that has really been guided for anything. Gaffron stated it has not been considered as developable land. Walsh asked what the density would need to be guided at in order for the City to be at three units per acre. Gaffron stated in his view the City would need to look at it as a single parcel. If there are 27 units on 5.5 acres, that would result in approximately five units per acre. Gaffron stated it would not be easy to get to ten units per acre without having a fair amount of apartments. Walsh stated in his view that number would be helpful to the Council before the City goes looking at other sites. Gaffron indicated Staff can take a look at that. Walsh asked if the City should get a firm answer from the Metropolitan Council on the density prior to the applicant redesigning their plans. Gaffron stated there are two things the City is looking at. The first is how big the building needs to be in order to get to the existing 10 to 15 guided density on the site. If that portion of the site is not developed, the City will need to look at what it takes to get to three units. Gaffron indicated Staff will need to look at that. McMillan stated two of the biggest issues she has had with the two buildings on the site is that it is out in the middle of nowhere and that it is not clear whether the site can be mitigated. McMillan stated in her view having people purchase $600,000 homes on the other parcel and then in five years construct two multi-family homes would result in a number of people being upset. McMillan asked whether Hennepin County would require the developer to pay for the turn lanes as well as construct them. Gaffron stated that is his expectation. McMillan stated she is not sure if there is enough right-of-way to construct the turn lanes but the developer will likely need to pay for those, which will result in additional expenses to the developer.