Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Tuesday,February 21,2017 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> a good fit for the site. Goodrum stated they are interested in hearing what the Planning Commission <br /> thinks about the proposed project. <br /> Goodrum stated they looked at the character of the neighborhood when designing the building and that <br /> they knew traffic, density, and the height of the building would be concerns. Goodrum noted they do <br /> have a traffic engineering component to their company and that they have already met with <br /> representatives from Hennepin County. A formal traffic study has not been completed at this point but an <br /> internal memorandum regarding the traffic has been completed within the company. <br /> Goodrum stated if these are market rate, full family units, it is anticipated there will be 23 AMP trips on <br /> the county road,which is less than three percent of the total traffic in the area. Goodrum stated they are <br /> well within acceptable parameters for traffic in the area. Goodrum stated they are also looking at a higher <br /> market-end rate building and that they expect more seniors and more retired people to live in the building, <br /> which will help reduce traffic even further. <br /> As far as fitting this building in with the neighborhood,the plan as presented proposes very minimal <br /> grading impacts to the site and works with the actual grade on the site. Goodrum stated the building in <br /> the front would be 30 feet in height, with three stories in the front. Goodrum stated they are basically <br /> following the grade as it goes down. Goodrum stated what is being seen from the back side are the three <br /> stories and the penthouse, which matches the front, and the added height is the garage level. <br /> Thiesse noted the people in the back will see five stories. <br /> Goodrum concurred it will be a taller building but that they are working with the topography instead of <br /> bringing fill in. Goodrum indicated they can bring a bunch of dirt in to cover the bottom level,which <br /> does not make a lot of sense, since it can be screened with landscaping. Goodrum stated they are also <br /> looking at how this building will compare with the neighboring Freshwater building. This building will <br /> have 31 feet at the front when facing Shadywood Road and the penthouses are toward the back on the <br /> north side, which raises it to approximately 40 feet. The 54 feet is from the back side from the bottom of <br /> the garage to the top of the penthouse. <br /> Goodrum pointed out the Freshwater building on the adjoining site has the same heights. Goodrum stated <br /> they took the height of the Freshwater building at its highest point, matched it on this building, and then <br /> dropped it off to 30 feet in the front,which is the same as the Freshwater building. Goodrum indicated <br /> they tried to match what already exists on the Freshwater site and that they are not putting a tall building <br /> next to a short building. Goodrum noted there is another 400 feet before the first residential house with <br /> 40-foot tall trees in between. <br /> Goodrum stated they also attempted to locate the building where it would not have a huge visual impact <br /> to the residential properties in the back. The building is tilted and located further back off of Shadywood, <br /> with only one corner being up against the 35-foot setback. The rest of the building will be further back. <br /> Goodrum stated for someone coming down Shadywood,there will not be that tunnel effect since that <br /> building will be 100 feet back from the road. The plan also incorporates berms and landscaping to help <br /> break the appearance of the building up. Goodrum noted no headlights will be seen from the residents' <br /> homes and that the building is tucked into the site. Goodrum stated they took the neighbors into <br /> consideration when designing the building. <br /> Page 17 of 32 <br />