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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, September 11, 2006 <br />• 7:00 o'clock c p.m. <br />(8. #06 -3212 HEMPEL PROPERTIES, OUTLOT A STONEBAY (NW CORNER OF WILLOW <br />DRIVE NORTHAND HIGHWAY 12), Continued) , <br />stated that retail area would be east of Willow Street, which essentially puts the majority of the retail in <br />Long Lake and that the Comprehensive Plan was subs) equently amended to allow some retail on this site. <br />Gaffron stated one or two words changed within that Section under 313, urban commercial land use. In the <br />third paragraph, rather than saying Orono will coordinate its commercial development planning related to <br />Highway 12 with the City of Long Lake, it now says,-it will seek to coordinate its planning with the City <br />of Long Lake to ensure the Long Lake downtown area remains vital and viable, to focus retail <br />development in a compact downtown retail area, and to limit the extension retail development west of <br />Willow Drive. Gaffron stated in addition the' comprei ensive plan amendment established parameters on <br />how it would allow retail in that area. <br />Murphy stated he is not able to visualize how this area needs another strip mall without significant <br />differentiation from what is currently being constructed down the street. Murphy stated it comes down to <br />uses for this site and that he does not see the rationale for putting basically the same type of establishment <br />in this area as what already currently exists. Murphy stated he would like to see both buildings be <br />medical. <br />McMillan stated what troubles her the most is the potential for eight different shops in that small area and <br />the likelihood of high turnover and limited market. <br />• Malin stated they are attempting to get some direction from the Council on what they would like to see on <br />the site and that it is too early in the process to be committing to the tenants that would occupy the space. <br />Malin stated they are looking for direction on whether they would be allowed retail on this site and that <br />the eight bays being proposed is standard for a development of this type. <br />McMillan stated visually there is an advantage to having a one -story building next to the pond and the <br />other building being located a little further away from the building. <br />Malin expressed doubts that a 35,000 square foot medical building would be feasible for this site without <br />a retail component. Malin stated they would like to create something unique and different from your <br />typical strip mall. I <br />McMillan commented the applicants have made a <br />White expressed concerns that this will become <br />attempt at designing an attractive building. <br />strip mall along the highway. <br />Malin pointed out there is only 10,000 square feet of retail being proposed. <br />White stated the idea of creating the lake is still a gc <br />applicant has done, but that he has a concern this wi <br />in Long Lake. <br />Wrede stated one of the things he would like to disci <br />is development. Wrede stated retail would allow those <br />shopping or go out to eat and that two office buildin, <br />d idea and should be taken advantage of, which the <br />become another strip mall similar to what is already <br />is the ability to walk to this site from the Stonebay <br />sidents the ability to walk to this site and do some <br />would not allow that. <br />PAGE; 11 of 20 <br />