05-17-2010 Planning Commission Packet

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r , Mohaupt stated she is here tonight to register her opposition to rezone the property to accommodate low income housing. Mohaupt stated she understands the Metropolitan Council requires all cities to have low income housing,and Long Lake has been in compliance with that for a number of years. Long Lake already has a large number of low income housing units within Long Lake's borders and that she understands Orono does not and that they are under pressure to make these developments. At this location Orono still will not have these units within their city because the site is basically in the City of Long Lake even though technically the acres are located in Orono. The Minnesota State Legislature has determined that the sta.te purp�ra e"�stablishing the Metropolitan Council's livable criteria policies that are set forth in Minnesota<Sta.tutes include the policy to intensify land use that leads to more compact development,which this project does for Long�Lake but not Orono. The other policy objective of the statute is to develop housing tliat mixes incomes of resid nts in a particular housing area,which this project does not do that with respec�`to O ono sin e no one�from O or no lives in that area. Mohaupt stated she feels that Orono's proposed high�density for this area is not wrthin the spirit of Minnesota �' �. �� (#10-3460 COMMONBOND COMMCTNITIES, SKETCH PLAN;CONTINUED)� Statutes or Metropolitan Council requirements and that it is cynical�and�~s�irited on the part of Orono to put high density at�this location. � �� Mohaupt indicated she would also like to po�nt ou�that�t�he,we�d�near the site would be in danger given that 42 units would be within a few yards ofthe wetlands.;The pro�ec is also right next door to a Long Lake park. The children of Long Lake will be negati�ely affected�he residenfs of Orono will have access to this park and the other amenities of Long Lake but would no�have t�o p�a.y for the maintenance and upkeep of those facilities. The City of Long Lake would�alsotlhave to'spend more to,mamtain that park facility. �v-:.- .� � r��.""`� ,� In addition,this project would c�re�e tra�c congestion for the fixe department. Long Lake is already at water and sewer capacity. Mohaupt�indicated she understands.�that people think there is a contract forcing Long Lake to provide water and s wer access to these units but that she does not feel it is enforceable since Long Lake is already at ca acity. �� Mohaupt.stated in her view what is happeriing here�is that Long Lake is becoming like Brooklyn Park. There will be'`�mo"re crime;more police calls,more�l�ro�secutors,more judicial costs, more taxes,and more victims. If Long Lak�ntinues on tl�'s�`road andbecomes�a.tBrooklyn Park of the western metropolitan area,Orono's residents are going to incur higher taxes for more police protection and will also be victims of the crime. `Mohaupt commented that Orono went�razy over 10 skinny girls who wanted to get treatment and that Orono .�... . �, � did`5not allow that treatment center,butl�yet they want Long Lake to absorb at least 168 more people into a one to two acre spac when the surxounding area consists of single family housing. Once again, it seems to be that this is a c se,�of the w althy�citizens�of this country getting their way at the expense of middle class taxpayers. One of the main�goals of 1'and use�olicy in the state of Minnesota is to protect the health,welfare and safety of all the people. This,p�roject does not do that as the only purpose is to protect the City of Orono from others who are not within thei�ncome class. Mohaupt requested that it be denied. ,� Mohaupt asked for a show of hands from the people in attendance who are opposed to this plan. A large majority of the audience members raised their hands. Kang requested that the audience members restrain from clapping. Mohaupt stated that there appears to be 50 to 60 people in the room and that all of them are in opposition to the plan.