04-17-2017 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,March 20,2017 6:30 o'clock p.m. The proposed site use plan indicates the proposed rock construction entrance will be located where the approved future residential access would be located. This access point has been approved by Hennepin County as a temporary construction access. Gaffron stated he is not sure whether Hennepin County will require some sort of additional turn lanes,temporary or permanent, in the area. Since it is a county road, Hennepin County will need to make that determination. The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District has approved an Erosion Control permit for the construction staging activity. The Long Lake Fire Chief has indicated no issues with use of the site for construction staging. The Orono Public Works Director has indicated this location is likely as good a location as the contractor will find for construction staging. The site plan suggests that temporary lighting will likely be used,and it is likely that to minimize impact on traffic flow, some work on the highway improvements will be at night. It would be appropriate to establish that any temporary lighting be downcast and directed away from residential areas. The site plan indicates a proposed visual and noise screening berm along the west and south boundaries of the site. The applicant is working with the MPCA to establish parameters and obtain permits for this berm which will become an amenity for future residential development. The City will require a grading plan be approved for this and it potentially will require a Conditional Use Permit based on the volume of permanent fill material. The applicant's narrative suggests that this site might be used as a recycling yard for projects other than just the Wayzata Boulevard improvements. This could put a different slant on how the site is intended to be used. The applicants should describe what is actually intended and how the contractor or Hennepin County expects to operate this site. Questions to be answered include whether materials from the Wayzata Boulevard project will be recycled and head out to other projects not in Orono and whether it is the City's expectation that this site is intended to be in use exclusively for the Wayzata Boulevard project and not as a regional recycling yard for other projects. Staff recommends that this industrial-level use at this site not become a regional Page 16 of 64