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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, December 13, 2010 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br /> Page 14 of 27 <br /> <br />(12. #10-3486 XCEL ENERGY, 3960 SIXTH AVENUE NORTH, Continued) <br /> <br />expansion and that the people of the City Council and Staff are the experts on the Community <br />Management Plan. The homeowners association is requesting the City Council not relinquish their <br />responsibility to the citizens by referring this to the PUC. This expansion would diminish their property <br />values. The homeowners association is not going to tell Xcel where to build but they would like Xcel to <br />consider alternative routes. <br /> <br />Peter Schoon, 994 Hunt Farm Road, indicated he was shocked by this project. The proposed towers and <br />substation are rather monumental. <br /> <br />Schoon displayed some pictures of their neighborhood with some 110 foot poles superimposed on the <br />pictures. Schoon pointed out that one of these towers would be in his back yard. The poles are also <br />rather substantial in diameter and would be within 120 feet of the current smaller wood poles in his back <br />yard. Xcel is proposing a row of thee towers across the wetland. These towers would negatively impact <br />the wetlands, the wildlife in the area, their quality of life, and from an aesthetic point of view, the <br />equipment would destroy the area. Schoon indicated a number of different types of wildlife live in the <br />area and he has a substantial number of photographs of the wildlife in the two and a half acre area. <br /> <br />The noise output is approximately 60 bp, which is equivalent to running a vacuum cleaner. Schoon stated <br />this is a land use issue and that he would request the City Council retain their authority over this issue and <br />not surrender it to the state. <br /> <br />Curtis displayed an aerial photograph of the area and the existing power lines. <br /> <br />Peter Dassel, Hunt Farm Road, stated he just moved into his house in October and that he has had to <br />replace the septic system, new roof, and he is now facing this issue. Dassel stated the impact to his <br />property is not as great as some of the other neighbors, but that the City cannot abdicate the wetland <br />issues to the states. <br /> <br />Mattick indicated Staff is recommending that this application go to the PUC. The City would provide <br />some input on the various issues, but that the PUC would decide the route. <br /> <br />Dassel questioned whether this is the best route and, based upon the impact to the wetlands, there should <br />be some alternatives. Xcel needs to demonstrate avoidance and minimization of the wetlands and in his <br />opinion there are other options out there that are not being considered. Dassel suggested that perhaps a <br />different parcel of land be considered for this expansion. <br /> <br />Dassel stated based on a visual look, if the towers were located on the north side of 12, there would be <br />less impact on the wetlands than on the south side of Highway 12. Dassel stated that impact could be <br />borne out by a wetland delineation, which unfortunately cannot be accomplished until the spring <br />sometime. Dassel requested the City Council give closer scrutiny to what is being proposed and the <br />impacts to the neighbors. <br /> <br />Bremer noted MN Rule 78.50, Subpart 6, would allow review by the City, but that in her view the City <br />does not have enough regulations on the books currently to deal with all aspects of this project. Bremer <br />asked what type of regulations the City has currently to deal with this type of project. <br /> <br /> <br />Item #04 - CC Agenda - 01/10/2011 <br />Approval of Council Minutes 12/13/2010 <br />[Page 14 of 27]