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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday, September 20, 2010 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> part of the conditional use permit and pernutting process. After the EA is completed and made <br /> available to the public for comment,the Planning Commission will review the CUP application <br /> and make recommendations to the City Council concerning CUP approval. <br /> Kochs stated there is continuing load growth in the area which has prompted the need to expand <br /> and upgrade the existing substation. The current substation is fed from a line from Medina. The <br /> existing infrastructure for the structure is outdated. Since Orono is an expanding community, <br /> Xcel would like to bring it up to their City standard,which is 115kV threshold. In order to do <br /> that,they need to connect the next facility to the old facility,which will later be removed, and <br /> then connect to the circuit that heads up to Medina. The upgrades will support the anticipated <br /> growth in the future. <br /> Kochs noted the project is expected to take approximately four months to construct and it is a <br /> typical upgrade that Xcel does. <br /> Rogers stated the existing substation was constructed around 1989. The area has grown and they <br /> are expecting additional growth in the area. <br /> Sedarski indicated the site consists of approximately 16 acres. The northeast corner consists of a <br /> wetland. A wetland delineation has been conducted and the delineation has been approved as <br /> correct by the Watershed District. Xcel is proposing to construct the structure completely out of <br /> the wetland and will meet all required setbacks. <br /> Sedarski stated the required permitting process allows Xcel to go through the local review process <br /> and request a CUP. In addition,they are required to do what is called an environmental <br /> assessment. The environmental assessment is another procedural step that will need to be <br /> completed and is a typical step in the process. <br /> The purpose of tonight's meeting is to obtain public comments on the draft environmental <br /> assessment and project. Following completion of the final environmental assessment,the report <br /> will be posted on Environmental Quality Board's website. There will be another opportunity for <br /> the public to comment on the environmental assessment on the website. Xcel will then come � <br /> back before the Planning Commission and then the City Council for approval of the CUP. <br /> Kang asked how the City can make its residents aware that the environmental assessment is <br /> available for review. <br /> Curtis indicated a link can be put on the City's website once the document is ready to be viewed. <br /> Sedarski stated they could also provide the environmental assessment to the adjoining property <br /> owners. <br /> Kang commented that would be helpful and that it is important the neighbors be kept informed on <br /> the proj ect. <br /> Schoenzeit asked what the estimated time for construction is. <br /> Page 8 <br />