06-09-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, June 9, 2014 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 8 of 22 (7. #14-3654 JOHN BESSESEN ON BEHALF OF DAVID DELANEY – “2500 KELLY AVENUE – SKETCH PLAN, Continued) John Bessesen, 4500 North Shore Drive, stated he has been working with the owner of this property for a number of years to come up with an appropriate development for the site. Bessesen noted there has been a wetland delineation done, which is significantly smaller than the easement that was created in 1981, particularly because the grocery store has installed a cistern to hold some of the water. Bessesen state he recently looked at the wetland and there is very little water sitting there and is very well contained. Bessesen stated the way the site sits and overlooks the meadow makes it nice for ten smaller units rather than four bigger sized homes. The goal of the development is to be able to provide housing for people who are 55 or older. Most of the neighbors are retired and this type of housing would have a smaller impact on the area. Bessesen indicated he would like to use the wetland as an amenity and that the units will be set back from the road quite a bit and will not be easily noticeable. Bessesen stated the area near the bluff would also not be heavily used by the residents with this type of development versus single- family homes. Printup stated his big concern, given his knowledge of the area, is the area across Kelly Avenue from the wetland. Printup stated when he was younger people used to call the wetland the bottomless pit and that his concern relates to the steep terrain and how unknown the wetland is. Bessesen noted they would not be allowed to change the wetland at all. Bessesen indicated the Minnehaha Watershed District has approved the new wetland delineation and the wetland is quite a bit smaller than the one completed in 1981. Printup asked if Kelly Avenue collects water or gets flooded over in the spring. Bessesen stated it does further down the street. Bessesen indicated in the area near the back of the church, the road is currently closed due to the water coming from the rest of the environment. Bessesen stated he could come off of County Road 19 in the back, which would not affect the wetland at all, and that he would ask the City Council provide direction on that. Bessesen stated he would like to see something more of a commercial use developed on the top of the hill at a later date. Levang stated she likes the concept of the twin homes, but that she has a concern about the need to rezone the site and change the City’s Comprehensive Plan, which raises a point about whether the concept is feasible. Levang stated she would also like to see some consideration given to reducing the number of buildings from five down to four. Levang asked what his opposition is to doing something that the current zoning would allow. Bessesen stated in his view if there are larger lots created on that site, there would be four larger sized homes, which would not allow much area for yards. It would also create a different environment in the neighborhood if those families had children. Bessesen stated he would like to have that view overlooking the wetland without creating a big impact. Printup asked what the zoning is across Kelly Avenue by the townhomes. Gaffron indicated it is one-acre zoning but it is a PUD development.