04-12-2004 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 12, 2004 7:00 o'clock p.m. (20. STUDYREGARDING DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS —ORDINANCE NO. 7, 3RD SERIES, continued) able to begin with the pre - application meeting next week. With up to a year moratorium, it puts the project at a 2006 construction commencement and precludes the ability to get the Hwy 12 road project fill to raise their site. Mr. Johnston explained that if the fill is not available to the site, it means that no basements could be constructed on the site due to the high groundwater table. Mr. Johnston questioned what would be accomplished with a study ahead of an application that could not be accomplished through the PUD process. He requested that the moratorium not be enacted but to allow the PUD application to occur beginning with the pre - application meeting next week and scheduling the Sketch Plan review with the Planning Commission. It was his suggestion to conduct a parallel process involving research being conducted while the PUD process is progressing. Mr. Tom Stokes, Brenshall Development, 2200 Shadywood Road, Orono, acknowledged that they have been in conversation with Mr. James for six (6) or seven (7) months. He explained that he has built and developed in Orono and the western Twin Cities area for about 20 years. He laid out a description of the proposed housing for this subject site which will be an affordable housing product for Orono, ranging from $350,000 - $500,000 per single family home. • Sansevere commented that the Metropolitan Council definition of affordable housing is under $200,000 and not the ranges proposed by Brenshall Homes. • Mr. Stokes replied that affordable, new construction housing for this western part of the Twin Cities and in Orono is at the ranges they are proposing and are at these lower ranges because of the availability of the Hwy 12 export material. He stated that constructing a single family home product in Orono under $750,000 is only possible because of the Hwy 12 road project fill that can be used on the site. Mr. Stokes stated Brenshall Homes with LaGran Homes were prepared to come to the City with a great product that is needed in the Orono community. Murphy questioned how long has it been known that there was something in the works for this project site. Gaffron replied that he had talked to Mr. James over two years ago about this site. Mr. James cited the example of downtown Minneapolis at Riverfront with supposedly affordable housing prices and that he heard conflicting information from other housing developers about Orono's interest in truly affordable homes with higher densities. Murphy responded that he was more concerned about the timing of a moratorium related to whether the city was aware that something was in the works and not the definition of affordable housing. Gaffron stated that the city has known from last year that Mr. James was trying to market the property and that they have had numerous conversations. In the past month he was aware that it was • getting towards the proposal stage. Page 14 of 20