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<br /> Orono Rural Oasis ;
<br /> an ecological and aesthetic approach to planning
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<br /> DRA�T summar re ort
<br /> The City of,�Orono is Ulessed �vith more Lalce Minntonlca lalceshoce th�n�ny ofiher eonuuunity.
<br /> � The residen�s and elec[ecl ofFicials of Orono have long recobniized ihis imporl�nt asset, and I�ave a <
<br /> IO11�T�l1ST:01"y Of WOCIQll�t0 I11c1111L'alll Ia�C�Clll'clI1L'y�:I11011�11,1J1'111�11'lly,the strict control of
<br /> "hardcover."IIardcovec,is considered to be all'impervious surfaces (drivervays,s��orl courCs,
<br /> rooPtops), which rush waler toward the lalce witilout ihe benePiis of iufiilir�tion. IIistorically,
<br /> Orono has regul�ted hardcover Uy preserving tnosl of its land area in large-lot 2- and 5-acre
<br /> zoning dislriets. More recently, ho�vever,ihe city has guided cerl�iu arels toward hi�her
<br /> densities,openii�g the door fi'or a variety of new possiUilities—Uoth positive and negative. On the
<br /> positive side, Oroiio can now consider working t�vith developers tow�rd"conservation
<br /> development," which c�n have benefts�for Lalce Mimietonlca beyond tnerely the reduction of
<br /> hardcover. On the uegai;ive side, higher densities can Ue a tl�reat to Uofih the ecological (large
<br /> �vetlands,Lalce Mim�etonka water quality) aiid aesthetic (pastureland,landuiarks,views)
<br /> character of the city as a whole. Wiih proper planning,however,the negative effects can Ue
<br /> successfully nutigated and the ecological health of tl�e conununity can actually be improved.
<br /> I�Z late 2004,the Cii.y of Orono placed a moratorium o11 development�vithin the city, and hired
<br /> Dahl�•en, Shardlow, and UUan,Inc. (DSU), to lead a process to detennine and develop shategies
<br /> to protect the aesthetic and ecological characier of Orono in tlie i'ace of new development
<br /> pressures. DSU's�laniiers and landsclpe architects,along with ecologists froni Applied
<br /> Ecological Services,I�ia (AES), facilitated ttivo evening meetings��ith city siaff and elected aud
<br /> appointed officials, evalttated specific"rural coi7idors" to discover,identify, and define aspects of
<br /> rural cliaracter in the city, peifo27iied ecological assessments, and produced generalized concept
<br /> � developmeut schemes for three pilot sites, Tluough tlus�rocess, Orono city leaders were
<br /> challenged to carefully examine what makes their city special, and the DSU team provided
<br /> guidance on how to couserve and protect these things tlu�ough changes to the city's
<br /> , comprehensive plan,zoning ordinailce, and public education.
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<br /> Process
<br /> 1. rirst Meetin� --Guidiiig PrinciUles: At au August 10, 2004 worlcshop, C1I.y COL111C11
<br /> memUers provided res�onses to a questioimaire prepared Uy the cousultants. Responses
<br /> and subsec�uent discussion�vere recorded, and these fi•amed the remainder of ihe process.
<br /> 2. Survey of Visual Prefecences; Orono city ofliciais were given disposable cameras and
<br /> insirucled to talce phoi:o�•aphs;of lhings they liked or dislilted in the city. E1ch �
<br /> participanl used o}ie camera foc positive pholos and anoiller for negative. The cameras
<br /> �vere retunled to tl�e consullant, who developed, compiled, and arrauSed ihe images f:or
<br /> presentation�nd diseussion. �
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<br /> Orono Rural Oasis DSU, Inc.
<br /> DRAFT summary repoit 1 March 2, 2005
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