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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Tuesday,January 17,2017 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> ROLL CALL <br /> The Orono Planning Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: <br /> Acting Chair Bruce Lemke,Kevin Landgraver, Loren Schoenzeit, and Alternate Janice Berg. <br /> Representing Staff were Community Development Director Jeremy Barnhart, Senior Planner Michael <br /> Gaffron, City Planner Melanie Curtis, and Recorder Jackie Young. Mayor Dennis Walsh was present. <br /> Acting Chair Lemke called the meeting to order at 6:30, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. <br /> NEW BUSINESS <br /> 1. APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF <br /> NOVEMBER 21,2016 <br /> Schoenzeit moved,Landgraver seconded,to approve the minutes of the Orono Planning <br /> Commission meeting of November 21,2016,as submitted. VOTE: Ayes 3,Nays 0,Berg Abstained. <br /> 2. #17-3886 HENNEPIN COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,3880 SHORELINE <br /> DRIVE, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT: ESSENTIAL SERVICES,6:32 P.M.—6:40 P.M. <br /> Sarah Karel, Hennepin County Emergency Management, was present. <br /> Barnhart stated the applicant is requesting a conditional use permit to construct and operate a mesonet <br /> weather station as an essential service. A mesonet station consists of a 30-foot tall tower within a 40-foot <br /> square fenced in area with small weather sensors mounted on the tower and other equipment mounted on <br /> the ground. The mesonet station is considered an essential service since it will be communicating <br /> important information to County departments, including public works and emergency response. The <br /> information is then sent via cell phone to Hennepin County's central weather gathering station. <br /> One public comment was received from an adjoining neighbor who expressed concerns about possible <br /> radiation being emitted from the station. Staff has confirmed that the only signal to be emitted from the <br /> station will be a cell phone signal. <br /> A conditional use permit is required for all structures, including utility poles,within rights-of-way, which <br /> are an integral part of a system for public transportation as for transmitting power,water, heat, <br /> communications, gas or sewage by any public utility. The Planning Commission and City Council have <br /> to determine that there is no harm to the adjacent properties as part of the conditional use permit process. <br /> Based on Staff's review of the site,the most impactful aspect of the improvement is the 30-foot tall tower. <br /> The 30-foot height is the maximum permissible height for principal structures in the LR-1C zoning <br /> district. The tower will be located in the northeast corner of the property. Immediate neighbors consist of <br /> the fire station to the east and the Dakota Rail trail to the north. The nearest residential property is <br /> approximately 220 feet to the north and is located in Spring Park. The tower in this area will be visible, <br /> as existing vegetation along the rail right-of-way will not completely screen the tower. The equipment is <br /> not expected to generate noise, light,vibration or odors. <br /> Barnhart displayed pictures of the overall site on the overhead. <br /> Page 1 of 15 <br />