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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMNIISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,March 19,2007 • <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> (#06-3249 City of Orono,Continued) <br /> bread, and other items. The vision of the food co-op is that it will become a central meeting place for <br /> the residents in this area, offer coolcing classes, and other amenities. � <br /> Smith stated the local businesses have been very supportive of this project and that there has been a <br /> great deal of interest being expressed in this project. Smith noted they now have 150 members and they <br /> are anticipating that number to continue to grow,especially once a firm location is decided upon. <br /> Smith stated they have a team of community members working on outreach and promotion of Harvest <br /> Moon and they have applied for a$25,000 matching loan. Smith stated they also have enlisted the <br /> assistance of Mary Molton,former Lakewinds project manager,to help make this project a success. <br /> Smith stated in essence the location they are looking at is one that their members feel would be a great <br /> location and would allow great access by the members of the coinmunity. <br /> Carl Berge, Orono resident,stated he is a tenant of the medical building located near the Orono City <br /> Hall,and that there is a great amount of interest and support being expressed for this project throughout <br /> the area. Berge stated this project is well worth considering, especially given the nutritional value that • <br /> would be offered by the food co-op, and that there is a great deal of reasonableness to the project. <br /> Jan Gunther,Minnetrista, stated she has owned a business in Long Lake for fifteen and a half years and <br /> that her two children attend Orono Schools. Gunther stated she welcomes the project in this area and <br /> that the co-op would benefit the community and would help promote other businesses to locate in this <br /> area. <br /> John Quinlivan,Independence, stated it is very critical for this type of business to have the support of <br /> the cornmunity,which this project has,and that this site in the Stonebay development is a good�t given <br /> its close proximity to the residents of the Stonebay development and the high school. <br /> Reverand Linda Freeman, 190 Cygnet Place, stated she is speaking on behalf of many members of <br /> St.Martin's Church and that they are also in support of this project given the benefits it would offer the <br /> community. <br /> Acting Chair Kempf closed the public hearing at 7:13 p.m. <br /> Kempf stated the City Council and City Attorney have recommended the Planning Commission pass the <br /> comprehensive plan amendment. Kempf noted the applicants would still need to go through a <br /> comprehensive plan amendment regardless of the action taken by the Planning Commission tonight. <br /> Kempf noted the Planning Commission in the past has been supportive of this project and that the City <br /> Council will be the deciding body on the project. Kempf stated as the language currently reads, one of <br /> the buildings is required to be a pharmacy, which would need to be addressed at some point. <br /> Zul�lo stated she does not feel there is a need to make the change at this time to the comprehensive plan • <br /> amendment and that the language should remain as is for the time being. <br /> PAGE 8 <br />