05/17/2010 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,May 17,2010 6:30 o'clock p.m. (#10-3460 COMMONBOND COMMUNITIES,PRELIlVINARY PLAT AND RPUD,CONT.) he moved to Orono for the rural atmosphere. Given the increased traffic of another 30 to 100 vehicles coming in and out of that development every day,he has concerns about the traffic and the noise. Aasheim stated he does not feel this is an appropriate area for the development. Steve Bohl, 300 Stubbs Bay Road,indicated he is a developer and has developed a number of properties in the area. Bohl stated he is very familiar with Interfaith Outreach and CommonBond. They are both very reputable organizations and he is in support of this project. Bohl stated in his view this is a good location given the close proximity to the park,the schools,and the downtown area. Howard McMillan, 1275 Lyman Avenue, Orono,stated he had the opportunity to work in a homeless facility in downtown Minneapolis. Work force housing is a nice label but the actual label for which the grant money that is being acquired is under the label of affordable income. McMillan stated he does not believe there is technically such a thing as work force housing. McMillan stated the majority of his concerns have already been raised. McMillan commented he finds it interesting that there has been discussion about how this will be work force housing,but that he is not sure how long of a walk or bike ride it will be to get to public transportation,which does not appear to be addressed. McMillan stated in addition he also has a concern about the wetland buffers. There has been nothing but drainage issues since the fire department has been constructed and he is not sure whether that has been addressed in these plans. The plans are incomplete and the Planning Commission has been given less than 78 hours to digest and process a plan that has been discussed since October of last year. This item is scheduled for a vote at the next city council meeting. McMillan stated in his view this is a fast track for a very complicated plan. McMillan stated he understands the Planning Commission can only vote on the land use issues,but there are facts coming out from the work session minutes that this has been a long,thought out plan since last fall but no information being provided to the residents. McMillan noted this application helped drive the Comprehensive Plan that was recently approved by the City Council. McMillan requested the Planning Commission to consider tabling the application unless they are completely sure that all of the information is available to make a good decision. Kevin Johanson,293 Dupont Street,Long Lake,indicated he moved here from Mound. Johanson stated he is not here to comment on Interfaith or CommonBond but that what he is hearing is that this is being forced upon Orono by the Metropolitan Council. This project will become Long Lake's problem as far as traffic,police,fire,water, sewer, and street maintenance. Johanson expressed a concern regarding the four different variances are being requested and that the density is too much for this lot. Anne Mohaupt,269 Inglewood Street,Long Lake, stated she is in agreement with all of the residents who have spoken against this project and against granting any variances. This application is moving way too fast and that the citizens of Long Lake have only lrnown about this for the past month. The impacts on the fire department are many. The increase in crime and traffic are big issues. Mohaupt indicated the Plymouth site that is owned by CommonBond had 90 calls in 16 months from November 7`�'of 2007 to February 9`�'of 2009. Those included six assaults,four juvenile runaways,two criminal damage to property, one controlled substance,one criminal sexual conduct, one theft, one theft from vehicle,a harassment,ten domestics, and other various calls dealing with disturbances,noise and PAGE 15