07-17-2002 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Wednesday,July 17,2002 5:30 o'clock p.m. (#2)#02-2789 DAHLSTROM DEVELOPMENT LLC, Continued Moorse suggested that the Commission look at the space allotted for the proof of parking north of the units and consider making the setback space wide enough to add one lane of parking along the edge. Parking there, would suffice to meet the proof of parking and avoid the removal of the trees to the north, if the building were pushed back far enough. Krall stated that, while this parking location may not be as preferable to residents,this suggestion would work and allow the applicant to keep the line of trees intact where the proof of parking had been proposed. Smith indicated that, Commissioner Hawn had suggested,the proof of parking be relocated to the side lane, thus improving the views for those units on the north backside. Mabusth reiterated that the Commission was requesting an additional 20' setback. Smith recapped and asked if item 5 had been covered in great enough detail. She stated that, as Johnston pointed out, the development is at merely 4 units per acre when the loft units are taken out of the equation. Although she would have liked to have seen more greenspace and parking, she stated that this is an innovative and new concept to Orono. She added that she still needed convincing that this was the right spot for a development with this many units, and wondered why truly walkable communities like Wayzata or Edina had not been considered. Smith stated that she was getting closer to viewing the development as a 4 unit per acre site, if the applicant could meet some of the City's other issues. She stated that she could support the lofts where they were and the diversity of the rest of the development, once other items were addressed, such as sidewalks, west lane and north lane, etc.. Krall stated that the current plan did reflect 4 units per acre excluding the lofts. Berg reiterated that other than losing the aditional 4 loft units, she was okay with the development. Rahn stated once again, that the code allows 6 per acre and this property is slated 6. Although he felt this to be rather dense, if it was slated for 6 then he didn't have a problem with that. Gaffron explained that this piece of property was slated for 6 because the City could meet the Met Council and housing diversity requirements. According to the Comp Plan, there were few other places in Orono, beside this location, that warrant this kind of development. In order to meet our housing goals and satisfy Met Council, 6 units per acre made the most sense here. Gaffron reiterated that there were no other places in Orono this would work,Navarre would not PAGE 11 OF 22