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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,June 19,2017 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Goodrum stated there is another 20 acres that are owned by Mr. Ugorets but that property is not <br /> contiguous. <br /> Schoenzeit stated the height continues to be a problem. <br /> Lemke asked if it would be a deal breaker if the top level is eliminated and the number of units reduced. <br /> Goodrum indicated it would be. <br /> Olson asked what the cost of a condominium unit would be. <br /> Alex Ugorets,Applicant, indicated it would be between $600,000 to $700,000. <br /> Chair Thiesse opened the public hearing at 7:38 p.m. <br /> Tim Olson, 2510 Old Beach Road, stated he has been asked to speak on behalf of the Old Beach Road <br /> neighborhood and to give voice to over 200 community members in opposition to this project. Olson <br /> stated they have had the opportunity to review the proposal for this site and find it to be entirely too large. <br /> Olson stated the residents recognize that this would have a negative impact on the established community, <br /> would negatively impact the quality of life, affect the natural habitat, unnecessarily impact traffic, and <br /> steal away the night sky. <br /> Olson stated the residents find that this project is in direct opposition to the Orono Community <br /> Management Plan. Although the residents acknowledge a person's right to own and develop a property, <br /> they support the community goals and recognize the proper development. They are not opposed to <br /> development of the property but strongly oppose this particular project. There are rules and regulations <br /> Orono has in place to prevent unnecessary and unreasonable developments. These have been put in place <br /> after much thought and discussion. This proposal in its magnitude, if approved,would go forward in <br /> opposition of the established community goals, city ordinances, and adversely affect the value of the area. <br /> The City is guided by a Comprehensive Plan, a plan written in principle and philosophy. In fact, Orono's <br /> Comprehensive Plan has been renamed to the Community Management Plan, which emphasizes the word <br /> community. Olson stated the title of this plan has been chosen to signify its intent and purpose. The <br /> word community is meant to stress the fact that this is, in fact,the plan and desire of the citizens. The <br /> retention of Orono's small town sense of community and personal interaction is a guiding factor. <br /> Throughout multiple pages of the Community Management Plan, it defines the purpose, and throughout <br /> the introduction, emphasizes the guiding principles of a plan, not as a whim, but is meant in repeated <br /> words to offer clear guidance for the future. When interpreting the meaning and understanding of the <br /> Community Management Plan, implementation of new developments should be weighted most favorably <br /> in the guiding principles, which are to protect and preserve Lake Minnetonka and its water quality,to <br /> preserve our distinct urban lifestyles and land use patterns,preserve and protect our many natural <br /> resources and open spaces and preserve our local character and identity. <br /> The Community Management Plan includes six elements critical to the development philosophy. First <br /> and foremost are environmental protections and land use. In this, Orono residents place the highest <br /> priority on open space, preservation of woodlands,wetlands, habitat, with a particular emphasis on dark <br /> skies allowing for the maintenance of a night sky free from light pollution. Additionally, land use which <br /> Page 10 of 17 <br />