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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, March 17, 2014 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />Page 24 of 26  <br />  <br />Bessesen stated his environmental people will be conducting a tree survey. <br /> <br />Gaffron noted this is technically not a public hearing so it is not necessary to obtain public comment at <br />this point. <br /> <br />Leskinen stated the concept appears to fit the area but that there are some challenges that will need to be <br />overcome. <br /> <br />Bessesen stated he also would be interested in perhaps setting up some work sessions with the City <br />Council on this concept plan. <br /> <br />Schwingler commented keeping the money in the community is an attractive piece to the concept and that <br />if there is a way to help improve the Navarre area, it should be explored. <br /> <br />Berg commented it hopefully will encourage other people to reinvest in Navarre. <br /> <br />Gaffron noted these units will be mostly hidden from Navarre but it will provide a new type of housing in <br />the area. <br /> <br />Bessesen stated this type of housing is needed in Orono and would allow people to stay in the community. <br /> <br />Schwingler commented housing that will encourage people to stay in the area is also a positive. <br /> <br />Landgraver stated in his view the development will be overwhelming to the residents given the massing <br />and that the applicant may want to consider reducing the number of units down to four rather than five. <br /> <br />Schwingler stated the people who are attracted to this type of development like that closeness and that <br />they would be aware of the massing before they move into there. <br /> <br />Schoenzeit commented the developer is looking to make an investment in the area and that it is important <br />that it is not all take by the City and that the developer needs to realize some economic return on his <br />development. <br /> <br />Gaffron asked if the applicant would like to bring this concept plan to the City Council at the first meeting <br />in April. <br /> <br />Bessesen indicated he would like to tweak the plan slightly. <br /> <br />The Planning Commission took no formal action on this item. <br /> <br />PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS <br /> <br />7. REPORT FROM PLANNING COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVES ON CITY <br />COUNCIL MEETINGS: FEBRUARY 24, 2014, AND MARCH 10, 2014. <br /> <br />Leskinen noted she attended the February 24, 2014, City Council meeting. All planning items went on <br />the consent agenda except for the application at 4705 Watertown Road proposing the oversized accessory <br />structure. A concern was raised about the structure being located too close to the road and was tabled to <br />Item #01 - PC Agenda - 04/21/2014 <br />Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 03/17/2014 <br />[Page 24 of 26]