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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO COUNCIL MEETING HELD JULY 11, 1988 <br />Mayor Grabek welcomed all candidates and stated that each <br />do candidate would give an initial statement and then would answer <br />questions from the Council. <br />EDWARD C. BROWN, III <br />Mr. Brown is concerned with the I -394 Project and the resulting <br />pressure on the community of Orono for various forms of <br />development and building on Lake Minnetonka. He has lived in this <br />area all of his life and would like to give something back to that <br />area. He,would like to control the pressure and see that care is <br />...taken of the Lake. His attributes include being a-resi.dent of <br />Orono for 12 years and has lived near the Lake. He has been on the <br />Planning Commission for almost a year, which has been helpful in <br />giving him perspective on the issues and problems here. He has <br />built a home in Orono and understands the issues involved with <br />-home. building; he has some leadership skills and background in <br />starting a small business within the First Bank System that he <br />feels would be transferable to what goes on with the Council. It <br />is a service - oriented business in which he is involved, as is the <br />Council; he also has a record of Community involvement as pointed <br />out in his resume'. <br />Mr. Brown is concerned with the Highway .12 corridor development. <br />Does believe there should be low density development, mainly <br />office buildings, institutional kind of development with a minimum <br />• of retail activities to avoid traffic congestion and pressure on <br />that area that already has too much pressure. <br />Navarre Development - He does, not know what exactly can be done <br />there and has not paid too much attention. He says it is not a <br />pretty sight right now. If there is some ability to upgrade the <br />building materials of the properties, an overall architectural <br />design for that area may help, including more landscaping, etc. <br />Interaction between the Council and Planning Commission - <br />He understands that the Planning Commission is an advisory body <br />and is appointed by the Council so there must be a limit to how <br />much authority the Commission can have. He feels, however that it <br />has been frustrating for him being a part of the Commission not to <br />have more authority to make decisions on the planning issues and <br />activities in the City. Maybe the concept of a Board of Appeals <br />might make sense to handle variances and some of the more routine <br />things that come before the Commission so they could be more <br />involved with strictly planning. One interim step might be more <br />joint meetings with the Council to make sure both bodies think <br />alike. <br />10 <br />