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PC Exhibit B <br /> CMP Part 3A. Environmental Protection Plan <br /> ORONO AS A "RUR�4.L OASIS" <br /> Incorporated herein by reference and attached to this Chapter as Appendix 1 is <br /> documentation of the ONOno Rural Oasis Project completed with the assistance <br /> of DSU, Inc. in 2005. The concept of defin�r�g Orono as a "Rural Qasis" stems <br /> from the combination of Orono's unique location on the shores of Lake <br /> Minnetonka just minutes from the bustling metropolis of Minneapolis, and its <br /> historic goals of protecting the Lake from the negative environmental impacts <br /> associated with urban development. As second and third-ring communities to <br /> the immediate east of Orono have developed with urban amenities and at typical <br /> urban densities, Orono has remained steadfast in its low-density approach to <br /> envixonmental management and maintaining the City's rural character. This <br /> contrast in development philosophy is visibly apparent as one enters Orono from <br /> the east; the rural character resulting fiom this approach to managing land use <br /> has become as highly valued by Orono residents as is the protection of Lake <br /> Minnetonka's water quality. <br /> Protecting its rural cornn�unity aesthetics while maintainuig and enhancing its <br /> ecological health has come to the forefiont of Orono's plannin� efforts in recent <br /> years. While the City has reacted to the needs of a changing population by <br /> providing for a wider range of housing options,maintaining the rural character as <br /> that development occurs has presented difficult challenges. In 2004 the City <br /> Council placed a moratorium on urban-density development and proceeded with <br /> a study to define the values that make up Orono's ri,ual character. . The goal was <br /> to identify and i.mplement methods to preserve and enhance those values while at <br /> the same time allo��ing for continued residential development. The resulting <br /> development parameters embraced by the City have been found to have equal <br /> applicability to rural density development. <br /> The Rural Oasis Project was accomplished through a 4-phase process that <br /> included: <br /> - Phase I: Identifying Key Issues. Identification of key attributes of the Orono <br /> landscape that are affiliated with the community's rural character and <br /> potentially affected by growfll; <br /> - Phase II; Anaiysis. An aesthetic and ecological analysis of significant <br /> undeveloped parcels in the City, focusing on 3 potential development sites <br /> and 10 i.tnpoi�ant r�adway coiridors as e�.amples; <br /> - Phase III: Development Concepts. Application of Conservation Design <br /> strategies to the candidate development sites in order to propose new and <br /> infilt development that would protect the resources assessed in Phase II; <br /> - Phase IV: Implementation and Design Standards. IncorpoTation of the <br /> project's objectives in the Comprehensive Plan as adopted City policy, and <br /> implementation via the adaption and enforcement of appropriate ordinances. <br /> City of Oi�ono Community Management Plan 2008-2030 Page 3A-13 <br />