11-19-2007 Planning Commission Packet

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� � how to conserve and protect these unique attributes through changes to the city's comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance, and public education. Process Phase I—Identifying%y Issues The first major task of the project involved identifying the key attributes of the Orono landscape that axe affiliated with the community's rural character and potentially affected by growth. . First meeting, August 10, 2004: At this workshop city council members provided responses to a c�u�est�onnaire� prepared by pthe cons ltants�Tlu�ose o th� .�- �,��,�r��R�, �questionnaire was;to idenhfy and prior�tize the comrriunity assets that these policy°makers �wanted to protect and'reachy,consensus�'abouts�e 'adv,,,�,,erse`effects�'of d,evelopment�;t�iati threaten•.th,�e�image and'�character tliey suppoi'f�. These questionnaires were tabulated and presented to the council and thNe subsequent discussion guided the direction of the remainder of the study. Visual Preference Surve��ust, 2004: Orono city officials were given disposable cameras and instructed to take photographs of I mages and elements that they want to maintain and those that captured features and characteristics they did not want to see in � the city. Each participant used one camera for positive photos and another for negative. The cameras were returned to the consultant, who developed, compiled, and arranged the images for presentation and discussion. The above steps were essential in establishing a framework for the analysis, concept . �development schemes, and design standards described in this CPA and related documents. Phase II—Analysis By combining the comments from the workshop, results of the visual preference survey, MLCCS data, and ecological fieldwork, the consultants were able to establish a methodology for analyzing the Orono landscape. The second phase of the Rural Oasis project entailed an aesthetic and ecological analysis of significant undeveloped parcels in the city. The analysis focused on 3 potential development sites and 10 important roadway corridors that were selected by city staff. Second Meetin�, January 12, 2005: City Council members, Planning Commission members, parks and Recreation Commission members, and city staff attended a workshop that covered the following topics: :• A discussion of the background and purpose of the study. • A summary of the study process for the Rural Oasis Proj ect. • A presentation of the Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS) as it applies to Orono, in order to establish a baseline�ecology for the city and execute an ecological analysis. City of Orono DSU Inc � Draft CPA 4 August, 2005