01-27-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, January 27, 2014 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 18 of 32 (5. #13-3637 WILLI ABBOTT ON BEHALF OF THE BROADWAY GROUP, LLC – 2350 WATERTOWN ROAD AND XXX WILLOW DRIVE NORTH – PRELIMINARY PLAT AND RPUD REZONING, Continued) Abbott stated if that is the case, the properties that are around there with public roads would pay the same amount of taxes as the residents on the private roads. Abbott stated he is attempting to create affordable housing, and if these property owners are required to maintain a private road, it would create an added expense to the homeowners. Gaffron stated Hennepin County, for the last 35 years, has been hit or miss on how they interpret the underlying road easements the City has for the rural private roads. Some show up as an outlot and some show up as a private road. Gaffron indicated he has attempted in the past to get that clarified but it has not yet happened. Abbott stated in speaking with Staff, it seemed that Staff wanted to go down the path of a public road. If the road is private, Abbott indicated some items will need to be changed. Abbott stated under their plan, they did what they heard Staff suggest and that in his view the public road makes the most sense. Abbott stated the added taxes the City would receive would outweigh the maintenance costs. Levang stated the City Council has expressed its opinions on the application and that the decision is up to the City Council. Abbott asked who would monitor the use of the 10 percent recreation area. Gaffron stated the neighborhood would monitor it. Another RPUD in the City includes Stone Bay, which has some areas designated for a neighborhood park. Gaffron stated when you look at Glendale Cove, the City Council concluded that the public trail that connects from Glendale Drive across the church property and becomes part of Glendale Cove Lane, is their private recreation area. Gaffron indicated there is a little outlot to the north as you enter the road that was also attributed to the private recreation area. Gaffron stated for a development of half a dozen homes, the idea of having 10 percent of the site dedicated to a neighborhood recreation area, especially when it is across the street from a city park, did not make much sense. McMillan stated that requirement was designed for bigger developments. Abbott indicated he is not in favor of doing it. Levang noted the City Council is in agreement with that point. Abbott stated the only other discussion is the decision on the FAR. John Quinlan, Gordan James Construction, stated a comment was made that this development resembles Glendale Cove. Quinlan noted the largest lot in Glendale Cover is just under a half acre and the smallest lot in this development is over a half acre. If you average the lot sizes, these lots are much bigger than Glendale Cover as a whole and will not have the same feel.