10-20-2014 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, September 15, 2014 6:30 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 49 of 59 Hiller stated the lots in this development will sell for $300,000 and on up. Hiller indicated they are willing to contribute $100,000 towards the park and that they will be asking the City Council to consider a reduction in the park dedication fee in the amount of $100,000. Hiller stated the total park dedication fee is approximately $250,000. The initial improvements to build out the park will be natural with the restoration of the grasses and the wetland buffers. Hiller indicated the park will look like the rest of the neighborhood and will not stand out. Hiller stated they will work with the citizens to raise some private funds and that they will also likely contribute some extra money towards those improvements. Hiller stated the question is how it will be maintained over the years. One option is to deed it to the City or to have some type of public/private agreement. Hiller stated if there was momentum on the park, they would be willing to work through some of those details between now and final plat and that they would like to hear some feedback from the Commission on this item. Hiller displayed some conceptual photos of various prairie restorations. Hiller stated the company Prairie Restorations is one of the leaders in restoring prairies and have done several large projects. Hiller stated Prairie Restorations would kill the existing vegetation, seed it, mow it at various intervals, and that it takes approximately three years to get it to the right height. Every three years certain areas will need to be burned. Hiller stated after this is done for a few cycles, the weeds become suppressed and the native grasses take over. Hiller indicated a different seed mixture would be used in the wetland buffer areas. Schoenzeit stated asked whether Xcel Energy has been contacted about the impacts that approximately100 new units are going to have on its infrastructure. Schoenzeit stated the infrastructure in the area is already lacking, and when 100 new units are added, it will put an extra strain on the system. Hiller indicated he did not specifically speak with Xcel about that but that Mediacom has been in the process of installing Internet cable to the area. Hiller stated by next year, Mediacom will be at the corner of the development and that he has spoken with them about extending the Internet into the development. Schoenzeit stated he is speaking about Xcel and its ability to handle the extra 100 units on County Road 19. Item #01 - PC Agenda - 10/20/2014 Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 09/15/2014 [Page 49 of 59]