06-20-2016 Planning Commission Packet

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. , Item 9 ��!VO To: Chair Thiesse and Planning Commission Members Jessica Loftus,City Administrator y� G` �qkES H ORS` From: Jeremy Barnhart,Community Development Director Date: June 20, 2016 Subject: #16-3832, City of Orono, 3580 Wayzata Blvd W,Susan E. Lurton Nature Area Variances: Lake and wetland setback Public Hearing Application Summary: The applicant is requesting setback variances from the lake and wetland boundaries to facilitate construction of fencing within the park. Staff Recommendation: The Planning Commission should provide a recommendation to the City CounciL List of Exhibits ExhibitA. Practical Difficulties Documentation Form Exhibit 8. Proposed Plans Exhibit C. Property Owners List Exhibit D. City Council minutes, May 23, 2016 Background On April 25`h�the Orono City Council approved a plan to develop a portion of Lurton Park as an off-leash park. An off leash park is a park that allows users to unleash their pets, and fencing is constructed to keep the pets within the park boundaries. Other improvements approved by the Council include expansion of the parking lot,additional benches and tables within the park. While the decision to improve a portion of the Susan E. Lurton Nature Area,also informally called Lurton Park, into an off-leash area,the final design details have not been approved. Those details will be decided by the City Council at an upcoming Council meeting. The variance application was presented to the City Council on May 23�d, and while the Council elected not waive Planning Commission review and hold an official public hearing at their meeting that evening, public comments were received. The plan presented in May differs from the plan presented now. The proposed fence has been pulled back from the wetland buffer on the west side, pulled back from the private residential property to the north, and largely pulled back from the wetland boundary on the east side of the property. Variances are necessary because the fence crosses mapped wetlands just to the east of the parking lot and is within 150 feet of the edge of Lake Classen. The fence within the wetland near the parking lot replaces an existing fence.