03/18/2013 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMISSION MEETING Monday,March 18,2013 6:30 o'clock p.m. ROLL CALL The Orono Planning Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: Chair Loren Schoenzeit, Commissioners Bruce Lemke,Denise Leskinen,Kevin Landgraver, and Alternate Janice Berg. Representing Staff were Assistant City Administrator of Long-Term Strategic Planning Michael Gaffron,Planning Coordinator Melanie Curtis, Consulting City Engineer David Martini, and Recorder Jackie Young. City Council Member Lizz Levang was present. Chair Schoenzeit called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.,followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. CONSENT AGENDA Berg moved,Leskinen seconded,to approve the Consent Agenda as amended. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. *1. APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 18, 2013 Berg moved,Leskinen seconded,to approve the minutes of the Orono Planning Commission meeting of February 18,2013,as submitted. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. NEW BUSINESS 2. #12-3585 SPRING HILL GOLF CLUB,725 SIXTH AVENUE NORTH/1050 TAMARACK DRIVE,CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT,6:32 P.M.—6:52 P.M. Tim Johnson,Applicant,was present. Curtis stated the applicant is seeking a conditional use permit for a wetlands alteration permit approval in order to conduct wetland filling activities. The golf course has requested approval from the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District(MCWD)to fill portions of a wetland on the 13"'fairway on the 1050 Tamarack Drive portion of the property.Please refer to the aerial photos attached as Exhibit C for the location of the project. It is also necessary to re-zone the portions of wetland to be filled and amend the City's official Wetland Map so the filled areas are no longer subject to the standards of the Wetland Overlay District according to City Code Section 78-1609. The applicant has undergone the Sequencing approval process pursuant to Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) regulations in order to conduct the filling activities. The Sequencing application is attached as Exhibit E. The sequencing review process ensures that alternatives to the proposed wetland alterations were considered prior to the request for alteration approval. The Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) found that the proposed alterations met the sequencing criteria. The sequencing application was reviewed by the TEP consisting of representatives from Hennepin Conservation District, Board of Water and Soil Resources, the MCWD and the MnDNR. Mitigation for filling the wetland is required at a 2:1 replacement. The TEP's recommendation for mitigation involves purchasing banked credits versus on site mitigation. The MCWD Board will be reviewing this request for off-site mitigation via banked wetland credits as a variance from their Wetland Rule at their March 2gcn Page 1 of 24