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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,September 21,2009 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Gaffron stated the existing main access to the site is located approximately 300 feet north of Wayzata <br /> Boulevard and 150 feet south of Kelley Parkway. This access location was accepted at the time the Otten <br /> site was developed in the early 1990s,but at that time a future public frontage road was also platted <br /> eastward along the north boundary of the Otten properiy. That frontage road has never been developed <br /> and the City has no plans to develop it at the present time. <br /> Gaffron indicated Kelley Parkway was developed as part of Stonebay in 2003. Its intersection with <br /> Willow Drive is located directly across from the future Otten frontage road. Stonebay also resulted in a <br /> number of changes to the Willow/Wayzata Boulevard intersection, and included provisions for additional <br /> turn lanes as well as a"right-in/right-out only"Willow Drive access for Outlot A, Stonebay. The raised <br /> concrete median between northbound and southbound Willow extends from Wayzata Boulevard to just <br /> south of the current Otten entrance. While this will effectively keep traffic exiting Outlot A onto Willow <br /> from turning left to go north,its current configuration also results in awkward and potentially conflicting <br /> left-turning movements for northbound Willow to Kelley Parkway and from southbound Willow to the <br /> Otten entrance. <br /> The most likely solution is to move the Otten access 150 feet north to be directly across from Kelley <br /> Parkway. It would require some interior reconfiguration of the Otten site. Retaining Otten's existing <br /> access as a right-in-only configuration may be a possibility in conjunction with such a change. <br /> Kempf stated access does not sound like it is an integral part of this application and that he did visit the <br /> site and watch traffic access the lot. Cars utilize the center turn lane to turn left on Kelley. <br /> Gaffron stated there is a turn lane to go left on Kelley but not into Otten's. <br /> Kempf stated there is a jog in the road and that the left turn is not designated. <br /> Gaffron stated conceptually that does make sense and that as you proceed north,a motorist would need to <br /> move towards the median to turn left. Gaffron commented that it is an odd configuration and that the area <br /> is not marked well. Gaffron stated in his view a solution could be reached if access becomes an issue. <br /> Kempf commented in his view Harvest Moon would be a great asset to the community and would help <br /> draw people into the retail area of Long Lake and Orono. Kempf stated this proposal is a great <br /> improvement over what was previously proposed and that it fulfills a community need and reflects <br /> Orono's values. <br /> As it relates to parlcing,if the main entrance is located on the west side of the building,that would help <br /> solve the parking problem to some extent during the busier times but would result in some diminished <br /> visibility from the highway. Kempf noted it does not appear that Staff feels there is a parking issue on <br /> this site. <br /> Schwingler noted there are approximately 40 spots on the west side of the building and that in his view <br /> parking does not appear to be an issue at this time. <br /> Kang asked whether there would be a community room available for the local residents. <br /> Michelle Golchek,Harvest Moon, stated that would perhaps be an option in the future but that their main <br /> focus at the present time is to get the grocery store open. <br /> Page 9 <br />