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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMNIISSION MEEETING <br /> Monday, September 19, 2016 <br /> 6:30 dclock p.m. <br /> Thiesse noted this is a sketch plan review and that there is no formal application at this time. Thiesse <br /> indicated the matter will be coming back at some point and there will be a public hearing at that time. <br /> Schultz stated a lot of thought has gone into this project and he does not understand how some people can <br /> hear about it but yet he has the longest property line immediately adjacent to it but only just heard about <br /> it. Schultz stated he and Mr. Hutter will be impacted the most by this development. <br /> William Dunlap stated he has resided in this area since 1981 and has been very involved with the water <br /> quality of the lake in line with the vision of the Council and the Planning Commission. Dunlap <br /> commented he respects the quality of the presentation but that the notice was very short to the neighbors <br /> around the lake. Dunlap indicated there are 50 property owners around the lake that are in the process of <br /> forming a lake association and that only four of them were made aware of it. <br /> Dunlap stated he is very concerned about the wetland. Dunlap asked who will have the final decision <br /> making authority over the wetlands and what is approved and not approved. Dunlap asked what role the <br /> Planning Commission and the City Council have in the final determination in a project like this. <br /> Gaffron stated there are multiple agencies that have jurisdiction in this matter. Gaffron indicated the <br /> Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is the Local Government Unit in charge of administering the <br /> Wetland Conservation Act ordinances and will be involved in wetland restoration or mitigation. Gaffron <br /> stated in some developments a technical evaluation panel involving agencies like the DNR and the Board <br /> of Water and Soil Resources will be utilized but that the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District will have <br /> the major oversight. Gaffron noted there will be a considerable amount of review of a project like this. <br /> Dunlap asked if the Watershed District has been involved at all at this point. <br /> Gaffron indicated the developers have had a professional person delineate the boundaries of the wetland <br /> which has been submitted to the MCWD. Those boundaries will need to be agreed to by the MCWD. <br /> Gaffron stated he would like everyone to understand that this is a sketch plan review and that the public is <br /> not specifically notified. Gaffron stated this is a chance for the developer to speak with the Planning <br /> Commission and then the City Council. Gaffron noted the code does not direct Staff to provide notice for <br /> a sketch plan. Gaffron stated he appreciates the fact the neighbors are here since it gives the developer an <br /> idea of what the neighbors think about the proposal. <br /> Dunlap asked what impact a decision on the wetlands in this case would have on the other wetlands in the <br /> area. <br /> Gaffron stated that is something that will be taken into account and that there is not necessarily any <br /> precedent setting in this case. <br /> Thiesse stated it is an agency above and beyond the City that will be reviewing the whole system. <br /> Sam Hamer, 1770 West Farm Road, stated he is very concerned about the water quality of the lake and <br /> that this summer there was a publication that stated the water quality of the lake has gone down. Hamer <br /> stated in his view this is a chance for the City to limit density on this site in order to improve the lake <br /> quality. <br /> Page 16 of 23 <br />