03-22-2004 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, March 22, 2004 7:00 o'clock p.m. (11. #04 -2974 RELIANCE DEVELOPMENT CORP., HWY 121WILLO WDRIVE • OUTLOT A, STONEBAY, continued) Applicant stated there is not a lot of interest from banks. They haven't given up yet and will try to incorporate. They have approached most of the restaurants growing in the metro area and they say the day population isn't big enough to support a restaurant. In addition, because of the bypass, traffic will be going down. Mayor Peterson took a poll of the Council that indicated all were in favor of moving forward toward a Comprehensive Plan amendment. She also indicated that one Planning Commission member was in favor of an amendment. Mabusth stated that she feels this application started off in the wrong place and that although she couldn't attend the meeting, the joint meeting with Long Lake was a great step forward and no one said they were against it. Mabusth stated she thinks it would be exciting to have a commercial development be in place for our neighboring community as they face re- development and believes there is a spirit to continue to work together with the Long Lake Planning Commission. White moved and Mayor Peterson seconded to grant conceptual approval for a Comprehensive Plan amendment to reflect the conditions in the March 1, 2004 letter. Discussion was opened and Moorse commented to clarify what the expectations are that: • 1) We don't want to say we are approving 30,000 square feet of retail. Instead we want to be more specific and he believes the pharmacy is key to this site and if the pharmacy is gone and we are just trying to fill up the space that is a different plan than is being talked about here. Gaffron stated that the City will establish parameters in the Comp Plan for development of this Outlot A that will include whatever conditions felt appropriate, whether this developer or any developer. Moorse responded to the applicant that we wouldn't amend the Comp Plan to simply say "retail ". We amend the Comp Plan to say it's fine to do retail in this area versus office as long as the retail serves the neighborhood and fits these parameters. One of the parameters Moorse suggests would be it has to be a pharmacy or something that provides the same type of service uses that a pharmacy provides. 2) Moorse continued to say that the other thing he would suggest is the far westerly space has to be food oriented if it is all going to be retail because if it's not then we have wasted that whole building. • PAGE 18 of 23