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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, February 13, 2006 7:00 o'clock p.m. (#06-3171 John and Joan Brooks, Continued) Mr. Brooks indicated he understands the conditions. McMillan seconded the motion. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. 12. #06-3174 KEVIN AND SUELLYN TRITZ, 1056 LOMA LINDA AVENUE—VARIANCE— RESOLUTION NO. 5425 Murphy moved, Sansevere seconded, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 5425, a Resolution granting variances for the property located at 1056 Loma Linda Avenue. VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0. 13. BRIAN FULMER, THE DOG HOUSE BOARDING KENNEL,3505 WAYZATA BOULEVARD WEST—RELOCATION OPTIONS Brian Fulmer, the Dog House,was present. Gaffron stated Mr. Fulmer would like to discuss with the Council his options to relocate to other properties within Orono. Gaffron stated his existing location is zoned single family rural residential, which does not allow for a commercial kennel operation. Gaffron stated the business operates as a legal nonconforming use. Gaffron stated this matter has been discussed with the City Attorney,noting that this use is prohibited under home use occupations. Gaffron stated the City is considering a business license process to allow this use elsewhere in the City rather than adding this use to one of the City's other zoning districts. Gaffron stated Mr. Fulmer has been working with the Eisingers in the past to purchase some land directly east of where he is currently located but that to date no agreement has been reached. Sansevere inquired why Mr. Fulmer has not dealt with this issue a long time ago. Sansevere inquired whether Mr. Fulmer is currently operating his business. Fulmer indicated his business will be closed on the 14"' and that he has looked at other options for relocating in the past. Fulmer stated originally the property located at 875 Wayzata Boulevard was not an option but is now a possibility. Fulmer indicated he has had ongoing discussions with the Eisingers and that they have had environmental testing performed on that site. Fulmer stated there is an area of undisturbed soil they would like to build on if an agreement is reached with the Eisingers. Sansevere inquired whether the 875 Wayzata Boulevard property would be a temporary facility. Fulmer stated it could become a permanent facility. PAGE 19 of 25 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,February 13,2006 7:00 o'clock p.m. (Brian Fulmer,the Dog House,Continued) Gaffron stated Mr.Fulmer would like to know whether the Council is agreeable to allowing his dog kenneling operation at either property. Murphy stated he would like to discuss the property located at 875 Wayzata Boulevard. Murphy indicated he has concerns with locating a dog kennel in close proximity to the Luce Line and that he needs to be ensured that the dogs will not get loose. Murphy noted a large number of adults and children utilize the Luce Line. Murphy stated he also has a concern with noise as it relates to the outside portion of the business. Fulmer stated they would use the current facility and that they would increase the height of the fenced in areas. Fulmer stated at either site they would have perimeter fencing to prevent dogs from getting out and that they would be willing to plant trees and other screening to mitigate the sight of the dog kennel from the Luce Line. White inquired how many dogs Mr.Fulmer currently has. Fulmer indicated he has space for 65 dogs. McMillan commented that there must be an issue with noise at times due to the large number of dogs. Fulmer stated they have not had any complaints regarding noise in the past and that they attempt to keep the noise at a minimum. Murphy noted Mr.Fulmer's current location is fairly isolated. Murphy indicated he is not opposed to the Eisinger property being used for this purpose but that he does have a number of concerns with the property near the Luce Line. Murphy stated he has a concern that the noise from the dogs will scare the horses,especially given the large number of dogs that would be housed on the property. Fulmer stated the trail would not be visible from the play areas and that they would not allow the dogs to be close to the Luce Line. Fulmer noted the dogs would not be outside the entire time and would only be allowed outside during certain daytime hours. Fulmer also pointed out that not all the dogs would be allowed outside at the same time. Murphy inquired how many dogs would be allowed outside at one time. Fulmer stated approximately one-fourth or one-third of the dogs would be allowed outside each time. Brokl stated he has discussed this matter with Mr. Fulmer and that the City is looking at implementing a business license arrangement allowing this use at a particular location rather than changing the City's code to allow that type of use within any particular zone or district. PAGE 20 of 25 r MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,February 13,2006 7:00 o'clock p.m. (Brian Fulmer,The Dog House, Continued) McMillan noted that the City of Long Lake is located adjacent to the Luce Line,which also needs to be taken into consideration. Sansevere inquired how close the nearest neighbor would be. Fulmer noted the 875 Wayzata Boulevard property is almost 11 acres. Gaffron displayed an aerial photo of the Wayzata property and surrounding area. Sansevere inquired whether there could be a probationary period placed on this use if the operation is located to the Wayzata property. Brokl noted that a public hearing would need to be held for whichever location is decided upon. White stated in his view it would be appropriate to table this discussion until further information is provided. Murphy stated he is reluctant to say he would be in favor of relocating the operation to 875 Wayzata Boulevard withant formal plans being submitted. Murphy indicated he has grave concerns with locating this operation near the Luce Line and the Long Lake neighborhood. Sansevere commented he would have preferred that Mr.Fulmer would have approached the City months ago rather than waiting until the last minute. White stated he would like to see a plan showing how the property would be utilized. Sansevere suggested the dog runs be located as far away from the Luce Line as possible. McMillan concurred that this matter needs to go through the proper process before a decision can be made. Gaffron stated the City currently does not have an established business licensing process. Gaffron stated the City currently licenses garbage haulers and liquor establishments but that the City would need to develop appropriate language to deal with this type of operation. Sansevere encouraged Mr.Fulmer to decide which property would work best for him and then proceed forward. Gaffron stated a public hearing would need to be held on each different property and that that would not be ideal. Gaffron concurred that Mr. Fulmer should decide on which property would work best. McMillan stated from a public perception the Eisinger property might be more workable. It was the consensus of the City Council that Mr. Fulmer work with Staff further on this matter. PAGE 21 of 25 1 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,February 13, 2006 7:00 o'clock p.m. MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT Murphy stated he has noticed on his street that the recycling is not being picked up until the evening. Murphy inquired whether other parts of the city are experiencing the same type of problem. Moorse stated to his knowledge the City has not received any complaints on the recycling pickup. McMillan commented that perhaps the hauler changed its routes. Dick Kroeger noted that the manpower on the trucks has been decreased to one person rather than three. Sansevere inquired whether the City should be doing more to address the coyote problem. Sansevere stated in his opinion the coyotes are a problem and are becoming a bigger issue. Murphy suggested this matter be discussed in a work session and that someone more knowledgeable on coyotes be brought in to address the City Council. White concurred that the City should get some expertise on this subject. White stated he attended a Metropolitan Council meeting on February 6"'and that the Council approved a new infiltration surcharge program starting in 2007,which states that cities that are leaking freshwater into the sewage system will be assessed a charge. White stated the City of Orono would have a 29 percent increase in their sewage costs due to the surcharge if some adjustments are not made. PUBLIC SERVICE DIRECTOR'S REPORT None CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT *14. SUPPORT FUNDING TO ORONO DISCOVERY CENTER—RESOLUTION NO. 5426 Murphy moved,Sansevere seconded,to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 5426,a Resolution of Support of Funding for Infrastructure Updates to the Orono Discovery Center. VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0. *15. AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT A TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT GRANT APPLICATION—RESOLUTION NO. 5427 Murphy moved,Sansevere seconded,to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 5427,a Resolution authorizing the submittal of a grant application under the Hennepin County Transit Oriented Development grant program. VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0. PAGE 22 of 25