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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, May 16, 2016 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 2 of 5 <br /> <br /> <br />Schoenzeit asked if there is a demand for this type of housing in Orono since it is not located on the lake. <br />Schoenzeit noted there are a substantial number of homes in the same price range being built not far from <br />this area. <br /> <br />Denman stated they currently have a villa neighborhood that they are constructing in Medina and that he <br />would welcome the Planning Commissioners to take a look at it. The design for this parcel is similar and <br />is targeting the empty nester, which has a strong demand. <br /> <br />Thiesse requested Staff discuss the Comprehensive Plan and the recommended changes to it. <br /> <br />Barnhart stated the purpose of the Comprehensive Plan is a long-range vision for the area to look for <br />appropriate projects that fit with those goals. The property currently is zoned business. The Navarre plan <br />identified a potential for mixed use on this site in order to meet some density goals of the City. The idea <br />was that these areas had the potential for redevelopment, which would call for mixed use. <br />Barnhart stated the challenge is that mixed use generally requires higher density to accommodate the <br />expense of acquisition, clearing of the land, and the different developments. This project does not have <br />those expenses. There are currently 27 or so acres in the Navarre mixed use area identified for 10 units <br />per acre. Barnhart stated this proposal would not be meeting the City’s goals based on the current plans <br />but that he is comfortable the City can make up the three acres somewhere else. The question for the <br />Planning Commission is whether this is an appropriate use for the property. <br /> <br />Landgraver asked if the mixed use is specific to a certain portion of the site. <br /> <br />Barnhart stated the City has identified a potential for redevelopment when it is listed as mixed use and <br />that it could be commercial or something else. <br /> <br />Leskinen noted a few years ago a memory care facility was discussed for this site, which was fitting for <br />this location. Leskinen stated in her view seven homes crammed into a few acres does not meet the City’s <br />density goals and that she is not sure about changing the zoning for this particular property given the fact <br />that there is a church next to this property and a couple of grocery stores nearby. Leskinen noted this area <br />also has a substantial amount of traffic.