11-18-2013 Planning Commission Packet

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, October 21, 2013 6:30 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 32 of 42 Carol Pass, 215 North Arm Lane, stated she would challenge the Planning Commission and City Council to look at other options. Pass stated she does development in Minneapolis and that sometimes there are pieces of property that are very special. Pass stated if the City does not try to come up with something creative and be willing to spend some money and make a big effort, the City would have no parks. Pass noted there is always pressure to sell off the parks in Minneapolis but that they have an independent park board that refuses to sell them. Pass stated in her view Orono has a City Council that has been at times very creative and that in her view propelling this application forward this quickly does not allow the City time to look at other options. Pass stated she does not want to see the Wenkstern family suffer financially but that the City should be willing to look at their options to preserve this area. Once the property is developed, the green space will never come back. Pass indicated she has not heard anything from the City to respond to the concerns that open land should be preserved, which is the job of the City. Pass stated her second concern is that North Arm Bay is a lake area that has been hard to keep clean. The water quality of the bay is below that of other lakes and the City would be adding 59 septic systems in an area that is extremely porous with multiple creeks and water rivulets that ultimately go into North Arm Bay. Pass commented the whole area is squishy and is like a giant sponge. The water does not stay in the creeks but is all over the place. This development would add an enormous burden on North Arm, which is already struggling for decent water quality. Pass stated this development would really add a huge load on that lake by putting so many septic systems on this site. Pass stated she would like to hear some concern on the part of the City about the water quality and retaining the natural areas that are still left. Pass stated this development will change the character of Orono and that the City needs to do something creative to help preserve this area. Robin Johnson, 4730 North Arm Drive, stated she does not have much to add to what has already been said, but that she would like to say that everyone truly understands the difficulties the Wenksterns are in and that they are supportive of them. Johnson stated at the same time she has a passionate love for this land. Johnson indicated she moved here in July of 2003 and that she has two small children. Johnson stated she walks this land every day and that they can all agree the community is better because of this area and the family business. Johnson stated the air quality is better because of the open space and that in her view there are environmental issues that have not been considered as well as aesthetic issues. Johnson stated she moved to Orono specifically because of the rural character of the area with one house per acre or more as well as the beautiful hills, trees, and rolling open space. Johnson stated this land is a premium and it is going away. Johnson commented she likes how the community is coming together to encourage the City to look at other options for this land. Johnson stated before the City rushes to micro- clusters, they should talk about the possibility of keeping some of the space open. Brenda Johnson, 520 North Arm Drive, noted she attended the work session earlier this evening and read the consulting engineer’s report. Johnson stated she would encourage the Planning Commission to table the application and not change the use of the property. The City needs to evaluate the alternative uses of the property as it relates to community goals. Johnson stated the City took a long time to develop the long-range plan with input from the community and that it seems like overnight there is a recommendation to change the use of the long-range plan as it relates to the use of this property. Item #01 - PC Agenda - 11/18/2013 Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 10/21/2013 [Page 32 of 42]