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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEEETING <br /> Monday, September 19, 2016 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> The proposed plan would require rezoning and an amendment of the Comprehensive Plan, converting the <br /> property from commercial use to residential use. Development of the property also requires re-platting. <br /> The property consists of five tax parcels. The easterly three parcels are currently zoned B-2 and have <br /> been operating as North Shore Marina for many decades. The two adjacent parcels to the immediate west <br /> are zoned LR-1C-1 which is a half-acre zoning district that allows up to three units per acre. To the south <br /> and east is the LR-1B one-acre zone. The developer is exploring the opportunity to redevelop the entire <br /> site, converting the marina site to residential. <br /> Gaffron noted his report outlines the issues to be discussed by the Planning Commission and that at this <br /> time he will turn it over to the applicant to make his presentation. <br /> Steve Bohl, Applicant, stated he would like to talk about their concept for this particular property and that <br /> he would like the opportunity to talk about the interest on the part of the community for changing density <br /> and uses for a particular site. <br /> Bohl stated as a developer, he is constantly chasing the market and that they have experienced a <br /> tremendous amount of demand for different lifestyle uses and for multiple-family projects, especially in <br /> the west metro area. Bohl stated the goal with the project is to meet market demand, and that in his view <br /> if something like this was available on Lake Minnetonka, it would immediately be sold. <br /> In designing the sketch plan, Bohl indicated they looked at the topography of the site, stormwater issues, <br /> and the types of services available. The thing that came to the top was that the current use is basically a <br /> big gravel parking lot with no stormwater management, which has an impact on the lake. Bohl noted <br /> more significantly is the current use zoned for the site, which is a marina with a large number of boats. <br /> Bohl stated he believes the stormwater improvements they are proposing would have a huge impact for <br /> this site. <br /> An aerial picture of the parcel looking from the southeast was displayed. <br /> Bohl pointed out the topography drops pretty dramatically from North Shore Drive quickly down the <br /> driveway to the parking lot. There is a pretty significant visual buffer along North Shore Drive. Bohl <br /> stated given the drop in elevation and the height of the proposed building as it sits in the bottom of the <br /> bowl, the image that drivers along North Shore Drive would have would be some rooftops of the most <br /> southerly building. Bohl indicated they chose to go with a lake style type architecture and layered in <br /> some townhomes as it approaches the lake. Bohl noted they located the buildings 150 feet from the <br /> lakefront. <br /> Pictures of the front of the proposed buildings from different angles were displayed. <br /> Bohl explained this picture provides a front view picture from North Shore Drive. The plan would be to <br /> improve the water quality and maintain a green space between the lake and the back of the townhomes. <br /> Also being proposed is a pool house where the current buildings are located. <br /> Gaffron asked about the difference between the units closer to the road and the bigger building. <br /> Page 18 of 23 <br />