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<br /> Orono Rural Oasis '
<br /> an ecological and aesthetic approach fo planning !
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<br /> DRA�T summary report '
<br /> � The City of�Orono is blessed with more Lalce Minntonlc�lalceshore thln�ny oiher eomnlunity.
<br /> Tlie residenfs �nd electec� officials of Oroiio have long reco�iized tl�is inlporlant asset, and l�ave a
<br /> lorig histoly of worlcing to mait�tain lalce qullity tlu-ough,primarily, the strict contcol of
<br /> "hardcover."IIardcover, is consic�ered to be all•im�ervious surfaces (drive�vays, s�ort courl•s,
<br /> roofi:ops),which rush�vater toward the lalce witlioui the bene�ts of iufilir�tion. IIistorically,
<br /> Orono has regullted hardcover by preserving most of its lancl are�in large-lot 2-and 5-acre
<br /> zoning dishicts, More recently, ho�vever,the city hzs guided cerlain areas to�vard 11i�11er �
<br /> densities, opening the door for 1 variety of ne4v possibilifiies—both positive aiid iiegalive. On the
<br /> posiCive side, Orono can now consider working r�vith developers toward "conservatiou
<br /> development," which can have Ueneris for Lake Miiinetonlca Ueyond merely the reduction of
<br /> hardcover. Oii ihe negative side,higher densities can be a filu•eat to Uoth the ecological (large
<br /> wetlauds,Lalce Minnetonka water quality) and aesthetic (�astureland, landinarks,views)
<br /> character of the city as a whole. With proper planniilg,however,tl�e negative effects can be
<br /> successfully nutigated and ihe ecological health of the conununity can actually be iniproved,
<br /> I�i late 2004,tlie City of Orono placed a moratorium on development within the city, and hired
<br /> Dahl�•en, Shardlo�v, and TJban, Ina (DSU), to lead a process to determiiie �nd develop shategies
<br /> to protect the aesthetic and ecolo�ical cliaracter of Orono in ilie face of ne�v development
<br /> pressures. DSU's plauilers and landscape architects, aloiig with ecologists from Applied
<br /> �cological Services,�ic. (AES), facilitated ttivo eveniilg meetiiZgs with city sfiaff and elected and
<br /> appoiilted officials,evaluated specific"rural con7dors" to discover,identify, and define aspects of
<br /> , iliral character in the cify, perfoi-�ned ecological assessments, and produced generalized concept
<br /> development schemes for tluee pilot sites, TI-uough tlus process, Orono city leaders were
<br /> challenged to carefully examine what inakes their city special, and tlie DSU teanl provided
<br /> guidance on how to conserve and protect these things tluough changes to the city's �
<br /> , comprehensive plan,zoiiiilg ordivauce, and public education.
<br /> Process
<br /> 1. I'irst Meetin�-- Guidiii�Principles: At an August I0, 2004 rvorkshop,city council
<br /> memUers provided responses to a questiomlaire prepared Uy the consultants. Res�onses
<br /> and subsec�uent discussion rvere recorded, and these fi•anied ihe reu�ainder of ihe process.
<br /> 2. Survey of Visual Preferences: Orono cily of�cials were given dis1�osaUle cameras and
<br /> instruc�ed to t11ce photogca�ils,of l•hings they liked or dislilced in tile eity. �aeh '
<br /> ��articil�ant used one camera foi•posilivc photos and auotlier for negative. The cameras
<br /> �vere returned to the consultant, who developed, com�iled, and lrranged the images for
<br /> presentation and discussion.
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<br /> 010110 Rlllcl� O�lS1S osu, �nc.�
<br /> DRAFT summaiy report 1 March 2, 2005
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