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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, September 15, 2014 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />Page 5 of 59  <br />  <br />Tridwell stated his questions relate to what the ordinances are that have been broken that a variance is <br />now being requested for and that he would also like to know what the Minnehaha Creek Watershed <br />District had to say about that 0-75 foot zone. Tridwell stated the property had dense vegetation in the area <br />by the lake, which has now been removed. <br /> <br />Curtis displayed pictures of the different properties on the lake. <br /> <br />Tridwell pointed out his property and the applicants’ property. Tridwell indicated he has no problem with <br />clearing out some of the trees in order to get a good view of the lake, but that there was a lot of work done <br />within the buffer zone near the lake and that he would like to know what is being done to address that. <br /> <br />Leskinen asked if he would like to know what the exact ordinance is. <br /> <br />Tridwell stated what he is hearing is that the applicants are requesting an after-the-fact variance for the <br />work that has already been done and that he is interested in knowing what the rationale is for the variance. <br /> <br />Curtis stated what is being requested is a conditional use permit, which is slightly different than the <br />process that Mr. Tridwell went through for his home. Curtis stated conditional uses are permitted uses <br />that the City can place conditions upon. The applicants are allowed to do the list of items in the Code that <br />are permitted conditionally but there is extra scrutiny put upon those uses and the applicants do not have <br />to prove a practical difficulty or a hardship. <br /> <br />Tridwell asked if the Watershed District has weighed in on this matter given the runoff into the lake and <br />other issues associated with the work near the shoreline. <br /> <br />Curtis stated the Watershed District has visited the property and has notified the property owner of the <br />permitting requirements for different soil disturbances and soil erosion control. Curtis stated to her <br />understanding the applicants are in the middle of the permitting process. <br /> <br />Kelly indicated they paid the $10 permit fee. Kelly noted they did not change the grade of the lot and that <br />they are smoothing out the grade so they can lay sod down. <br /> <br />Item #01 - PC Agenda - 10/20/2014 <br />Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 09/15/2014 <br />[Page 5 of 59]