01-27-2003 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, January 27, 2003 7:00 o'clock p.m. • ( #02- 2789/02 -2840 DAHLSTROM DEVELOPMENT LLC, Continued) Dick Kroeger, 65 Stubbs Bay Road North, stated his surprise that the developer felt the affordable housing issue was no longer relevant, when to Kroeger's knowledge, it had been discussed and included in every written record put out from the beginning. He maintained that following the Met Council suggested calculation was not `rocket science'. For example, take the average price of a home in Orono $250,000 less the Met average of $170,000 community wide = $80,000 X 16 (10% of the development) = $1.25 million. He felt $1.25 million to be the dollar amount Dahlstrom be required to contribute. He reiterated the importance of quantifying an amount now, if not now, when. He cited that construction in Orono was nearly maxed out, and urged the Council to say 10 %, quantify its solution, and get a pledge for this significant amount tonight. White asked whether they could postpone a decision with regard to affordable housing until after the work session scheduled somewhere between February 15 -28. He also suggested staff involve Long Lake in the affordable housing work session. Sansevere asked why it was not suitable to have affordable housing in Long Lake, Maple Plain, or Independence. Kroeger pointed out that they already have affordable housing and by law, Orono should • also. With regard to the setback variances, Gaffron stated that these would be included with the wetland buffers. Murphy moved, Mayor Peterson seconded, to accept the location of the proposed temporary sales trailer. VOTE: Ayes 4/0/1, Sansevere abstaining. Murphy moved, White seconded, approving the setback variances and wetland encroachment. VOTE: Ayes 4/0/1, Sansevere abstaining. Sansevere abstained, as he arrived late and missed part of the discussion on the subjects. Murphy revised his earlier motion. Nygard withdrew his second. Murphy moved, Mayor Peterson seconded, to accept Mr. Dahlstrom's offer to provide resources, capital, manpower, knowledge, and /or participate at the workshop in order to come to a resolution on what the resources will be with regard to the affordable housing contribution. White asked if they could make a stronger statement and believed it was not too late for the developer to add affordability to the development. He believed it would only require a small number of units. 40 PAGE 14 of 28