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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-16-1971 Planning MinutesNOTICE A REGUUR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, VILUGE OP ORONO WILL BE HELD MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1971 7:00 P.M. AGENDA HEARING - Non‘•conforming Conditional Use Permit •• Minnetonka Art Center 7:00 P.M, 2* PUBLIC HEARING - Conditional Use Permit - Freshwater Biological Institute 7:30 P.M. ii h V/ -' ■; V* VILLAGE OF ORONO Regular Meeting of the Planning Conmission, August 16, 1971 7:00 P.M. The Planning Commission met on the above date with the following members present: Chairman Poisson, Butler, Elliott, Gasch, Hays, Herfiirth, Kuhlemeier, Kullberg, Nicholls, and Southworth. Absent: Ryerse. Poisson opened the meeting. The first item was a public hearing on the matter of a non> conforming conditional use permit for the ?linnetonka Art Center. Representing the Center were Mrs. fliles and Messers. Wilson and Little. Mrs, Miles spoke on the activities and objectives of the Center citing there were RO to 90 classes held each year with an outstanding faculty. There were 14 scholarships given last year. It was brought out that the Center is non-profit and no public funds are used to operate it. Kuhlemeier asked Mrs. Miles if one had to be a member to use the facilities and was informed they did, and that the membership was only $10 per year. He then asked about the playground and outdoor facilities and was informed there was no change contemplated at the present and future plans called for development of the outdoor facilities, incorporating outdoor drama and music. Mrs. Curtis was informed the acieage was six plus. Mr. Curtis was given information on the need for non-conforming conditional use permit. Mr. Dor^ was told that the orgainzation was tax exempt and all donations to the Center were tax free. Mrs. Bjerking was of the opinion that there was not enough publicity given to the sale of the school to the Art Center. Mr. Haehlin, the Orono School Superintendent, stated that the sale was publicized in the Minnetonka Sun and the school newsletter and that no public hearing was required; also, that the valuation for the sale of the property was determined by two private appraisals and the latest one used, further explaining that the money from tlie sale would be used to construct a new school on the Orono School central campus property which would have eight classrooms instead of the four in the Hill School. The balance of the cost of the additional construction would be financed by a levy of 8 mills if financed in one year or 4 mills per year levy if financed in two years. PUBLIC HEARING Minnetonka Art Center fContinuedl MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING HELD AUGUST 16, 1971 Page 2 Dan itePherson of the Orono School fioanl further explained that lie considered the sale a good one since the school was in a R-IC zone (residential) and the usane in this zoning would be very limited. Kuhleneier questioned the clustering of schools in one complex versus the open concept of schools beinR scattered through the area. Since no one else wished to be heard, the hearing was closed at 7:45 P.’l. After a ten minute recess, Poisson opened the public hearing on the natter of a conditional use permit to allow the FWBI a B-1 zone and a variance to permit a 1400' long 60' wide channel from the lake to same. Mr Braun represented the FWBI in a presentation of the latest concept of the building and channel. He explained that the latest concept of the channel alignment was engineered to use the existing water and that engineering evaluation placed a 5-1 slope on the channel which would be approximately 60* channel. All dredgings would be haulo ] : from the swamp. Kullbcrg asked Mr. Braun if a 5-1, 60' channel would be adequate. Mr. Braun stated he thought it would considering that the boat traffic would be for the FlfBI only and would bo at i:-w throttle. Southworth questioned whether the channel could be legally closed. Richard Gray replied that he was meeting Friday morning with the assistant attorney general to find a way to obtain broad powers to do this in view of the fact the institute would revert to a public body, namely, the University of Minnesota. Butler asked if the width and depth of the channel could be controlled after dredging. Mr. Braun replied that with controlled usage, low horse-power motors and reduced speed it was estimated it could be controlled with minimal maintenance. Mr. Opheim asked Mr. Gray about the relationship of the conditional use permit and the variance--as to whether the institute could be constructed without the channel Ir. Gray could not give a firm answer the question since all the alternatives would have to be studied by the entire board of the FWBI. (Continued) PUBLIC HEARING Minnetonka Art Center (Continued) ^ PlfBLIC heaving Freshwater Biological Institute r ■pi MIHUTBS OP A RBCULAA MBBttNG AUGMT 16» 1971 Mr. ttertMJi r«Aii i letter froa the PMBI to ^ the Orono COUH W He iiio coule be built one count11 cwicetnlng new propotels. .................................. PWl bujtioaed whether the P^/bI buildins - -eliewhete en Like Mirtnetonka, Or could be constructed without the channel it placed on the proposed site* lie then presented a petition of seven of the eight residehts on Old Beach Rodd, objecting to the closing of the toOd retonirig add the dredging of the aarslit Mr. MofaH asked why a bridge could not be built over the proposed channel on Old Beach Road rather than closing it. A Planning Cowiission nenber stated that the cost of bridges nade it prohibitive. Mr. ’tassengale questioned the following (a) ultinate ownership of the PWBI (b) the ultinate usage of the channel, stating he had fears that it would become a public channel (c) the matter of the University of 'linnasota taking over the RfUI. He had fears that a public body, as the University of ?linnesota, could condemn property for the purpose of starting a Lake Minnetonka campus in the area. ;ir. Cloutier said that tae Fr/UI was a highly valued institute but he had reservations as to the credibility of the IDS proposal. He asked about taking the five acres of the tax rolls. He questioned why the IDS had so Mich highly paye'd talent presenting the proposal if ‘ *they had no vested interest in it. He proposed that IDS give the property to Hennepin County Park Board who would in return lease it to the RfUI. This would make condemnations difficult and insure maintenance of the property. He asked how you legally guarantee that only the FIVBI will use the channel. Kirby asked why travel between the lake and the institute could not bo nade by motorized vehicles rather than boat. Three representatives from MECCA spoke on the dredging of the channel. They questioned fa) whether it was environmently sound (b) if the dredging of the channel would defeat the ultinate benefit derived from placing it there (c) after it was placed there, what sort of control and enforcement would be placed on its usage. They mentioned the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act. (Continued) Page S PUBLIC HEARING Freshwater Biological Institute (Continued) S hi ‘r] W: I M A '^4 r ii MINUTES OP A REGULAR HBETING HELD AUGUST 16, 1971 P«lt» 9 Th«y ft«t«d that rtlaaia of rights by the mmars was a battar concapt than tha concatp of tha Park Board taking over. Thay questioned Mr. Gray on tha validity of so«a of tha PUBLIC HBARIFIG Frashwatar Biological institute (Continued) raMrts'asking uhat tha vote in tha connittea Mas on SOM of tha anvironMntal p^blau Thay uara of tha opinion that a pj^lic hearing should not have bean held until there was aisagj'.s^taas.'aa!;. Js at..gacisiena without calling in anvironMntal experts. A discussion was held on what constituted an anvironMntal ”axpart*' and what was rafarrad to as a '*nibblini taok^axcaption^to* the stataMnt that the swanp in question was only one swanp and stated that ovary swaaqp was inportant. t" ana wnax ing phanonana" by MECCA raprasantativas Mrs. Schroadar spoke on the Wetlands Ordinance and her concern that in tha first .of tha ordinance a variance would be granted. She was of tha opinion that tha granting of a variance at this tine would weaken the Maning of tha ordinance, 'fr. Laybourn statad*ha had doubts on the validity of tha reports coning fron tha University of MiMOSOta in tha anvironMntal connittea report. Since no one else wished to be heard, the hearing was closed at 10:20 P.!l. Baspactfully subnittad. Mika Schell Secretary ■ : ■ : ■"M- ■ a