10-27-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, October 27, 2014 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 8 of 32 (7. RECAP OF 125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION – PHOTOS AND RECOGNITION, Continued) Levang commented it was a really enjoyable day and that she hopes the attendees, by coming to the Pioneer Museum for this event, will come back to visit with their friends and family. Gash noted Long Lake was once part of Orono until 1906 and so the event was held in “Old Orono.” PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS – LOREN SCHOENZEIT, REPRESENTATIVE Schoenzeit stated he had nothing to report but would be available for questions. PUBLIC COMMENTS Bob Devere, 2670 County Drive West, stated the reason he is here tonight is to call the Council’s attention to an article that appeared in the Star Tribune on February 22, 2014. Devere stated when he read the article, it was really a moment that rang a bell with him, especially when it talked about Orono and the fact that the City’s property values have gone down 38 percent since 2004 to the end of 2013. Devere stated he understands the supply and demand concept in the housing market as well as the 2008- 2009 financial crisis; which destroyed the housing market, but that he has a concern with the number of homes being built in Orono. Devere indicated he was driving down Willow Road between Watertown and County Road 112 and noticed that the City apparently approved seven new lots on Willow, which is just south of the development that started back in 2007. Devere stated the developer had built one house and it sat there for years unsold but he has since built more homes that appear to be sold. Devere stated his concern is, based on this article, that Orono has too much housing and that the thing the City should not be doing is constructing more homes. The article talks about the fact that the housing in Orono took nearly 170 days to sell, which is more than twice the metro-wide average. Devere stated in his view the problem with home valuations decreasing is too many homes being built in the area and that he would ask the City Council to do what it can to minimize any increases in housing in the community until the backlog is taken care of. PLANNING DEPARTMENT REPORT *8. #13-3615 JAMES ANDERST ON BEHALF OF NARROWS, LLC, 3380-3386 SHORELINE DRIVE, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AMENDMENT – RESOLUTION NO. 6457 Levang moved, Printup seconded, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 6457, a Resolution Amending the Approved Site Plans Attached to Resolution No. 6353, File No. 13-3615. VOTE: Ayes 3, Nays 0.