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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, January 27, 2003 <br />7:00 o'clock p.m. • <br />( #02- 2789/02 -2840 DAHLSTROM DEVELOPMENT LLC, Continued) <br />Dahlstrom pointed out that they had supplied their financial data to the City's financial <br />advisors three months ago. As originally proposed at 235 units, Dahlstrom maintained that <br />the development has lost some of its ability to provide affordable housing with merely 162 <br />units remaining. He noted that no one really knows where to go with the affordability <br />question. <br />White asked what the project could carry, according to affordability, which would not be a <br />windfall but would satisfy the City's needs. <br />Murphy suggested they talk further about this in a work session, since he was reluctant to <br />say we are doing affordable housing, when actually the City is not. Again, Murphy noted <br />there were homes throughout Orono that could be fixed up. <br />Dahlstrom stated that a process needs to be in place and offered his resources, including <br />Don Soley, to contribute to creating an affordable program for Orono. <br />Mayor Peterson indicated that there were many unresolved issues that could not be looked <br />at tonight and felt she could not lean either way. <br />Gaffron stated that the Council needed to get through four issues tonight, if possible. • <br />Attorney Barrett stated that, while it is difficult to have two bodies making final decisions, <br />the developer has agreed to give up vested property rights. He believed the City could <br />approve the Preliminary Plat tonight, with final Preliminary Plat and PUD Ordinances <br />adopted in mid February. <br />Murphy moved, Nygard seconded, to accept staffs recommendation with regard to <br />the setback variance, approve the location of the temporary sales trailer, and accept <br />Dahlstrom's offer to participate in an affordable housing workshop and supply the <br />City with the necessary resources, in the spirit of cooperation in which it was offered; <br />and adopt Resolution No. 4915 reflecting the new language granting Preliminary Plat <br />Approval and General Development Plan Approval for Planned Unit Development <br />No. 4. <br />Johnston asked if the wetland variance for encroachment per staff's report was allowed. <br />Murphy confirmed that the encroachment variance was granted allowing for slanted <br />garages as requested. <br />Public Comment <br />Megan Bennett, 500 Hanlon Avenue, stated that, supposedly, this development was going <br />PAGE 12 of 28 <br />