10-09-2017 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,October 9,2017 7:00 o'clock p.m. 12. #17-3968 SHARRATT DESIGN AND COMPANY OB/O FREDERICK AND PATRICIA JOHNSON, 1565 ORCHARD BEACH PLACE(PID 07-117-23-0026)—VARIANCE—Continued William Settler,4209 North Shore Drive, stated Council Member Dankey's point about why anybody would buy this property is worth noting. The property listed in 2014 at$100,000 for 83 feet of lakeshore on Lake Minnetonka. Settler noted market values are nowhere near that unless the land is used as a boat slip on the lake. Settler commented this would basically be dock space and a nice piece of grass to enjoy on the lake. The property sat on the market and was not sold and in his view the market has spoken. Settler noted the City's hardcover regulations did change and that in his view it simplified the job of the Planning Commission and the City Council but then it also brings in some of these highly questionable properties that were barred by history from being able to be built upon. Settler stated if you go to the Hennepin County website,this lot was one of the properties that was tagged as vacation/recreational use, and it has not been tagged by Hennepin County as a true residential lot as most of the lots in Orono have been. Settler stated there was a huge impact on them when someone was allowed to build in front of their house. Settler stated these are long lots and they all have added hardcover over the years. If the lot is already wet and a house is built on it,the situation it will create is that they will be back asking for all kinds of approval to deal with the drainage. Settler stated every summer they are out on their property trying to get the water to drain and their lot is three-quarters of an acre. Settler stated adding that much hardcover that close to the lake is a really important point and that he does not believe the Commission should allow anyone to build on the lake without dedicated patio space because ten years from now there will be a patio there. Settler stated they will build inside the envelope and then other stuff will creep in,which will create other problems with runoff. Shawn McDermott, 1530 Orchard Beach Road, stated they are located on the east side of the proposed house. McDermott stated this house will be in front of their house and that all of their west facing windows will look at this house. McDermott noted the applicant said that it is 30 feet from the comer of this house to his house and that 10 yards is not very much. McDermott stated in his view it is ignoring the character of the neighborhood. In addition, it appears that everyone is completely glossing over the 100-foot setback since it has never been mentioned. McDermott indicated he is a new resident to the community and that he bought his house in December of 2015 and did some renovations to the property. McDermott stated he moved from North Oaks, Minnesota,who has pretty strict property standards and has resulted in pretty stable property values,and that Orono's property values have stayed high because of the high standards. McDermott stated what he enjoys most about Orono is the police force and that he would like to thank the police department for keeping the traffic speeds down. McDermott stated as a certified financial planner,he has to follow a code of ethics and that his fiduciary standard is to put his clients' interests first. McDermott noted the City's website has the City's code of ethics right there and that the cornerstone of the city's government in Minnesota is the collected City Council. The City Council fashions the policies that determine a community's present and future well- being. Citizens look to their local government for leadership in planning and managing the community development. McDermott stated the City Council is here for the residents. Page 8 of 23