HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-22-1999 Council Work SessionCITY OF ORONO
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
NOTICE is hereby given that the Orono City Council will meet in a work session at 7:30
a.m. on Thursday, April 22, 1999 in the Orono City Council Chambers, 2780 Kelley Parkway,
Orono, Minneso*.a. The purpose of the work session is to discuss a number of current issues
including the City Council's policy role, an update regarding senior housing, an update regarding
Townline Road, and other issues of current interest.
This meeting is open to the public.
/s/ Linda S. Vee
City Clerk
Posted at:
City Hall
Navarre Post Office
Long Lake Post Office
Crystal Bay Post Office
COUNCIL WORK SESSION
7:30 A.M., THURSDAY, APRIL 22,1999
AGENDA
1.The importance of the City Council's policy role, particularly during this time of substantial
turnover on the Planning Commission and new Zoning staff.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Update regarding senior housing.
Update regarding Townline Road.
Dates and topics for upcoming work sessions.
Other.
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
Mayor and City Council
Ron Moorse, City Administrator
April 21, 1999
SUBJECT: The City Council's Policy Role
With the recent resignations from the Planning Commission, one new Planning staff person, and a
vacancy in another Planning staff position, the City has lost a significant amount of its
"organizational memory" regarding key policies that have guided the City's land use decisions
through the years. Although Mike Gaffron remains an important and very knowledgeable resource
in this area, neither staff nor the Planning Commission are currently in a position to effectively
evaluate the potential impacts of significant changes in policy when they are suggested in relation
to specific development applications.
It would be very helpful if, during this time, the Planning Commission and City Council would focus
on consistently following established policy when reviewing development applications; rather than
considering exceptions to policies in response to specific development applications.
If a Council member or Planning Commission member has concerns regarding particular policies,
these concerns are best addressed as part of the Comprehensive Plan update process rather than on
an ad hoc basis in relation to a specific application. This enables the policy issue to be addressed
in a much more thoughtful and deliberate way, which provides an opportunity to address how any
change in the policy would affect overall development versus one specific development application.
TO;Mayor and City Council
FROM:Ron Moorse, City Administrator
DATE:April 21, 1999
SUBJECT: Senior Housing Update
As part of its Comprehensive Plan update process, the City Council has recently discussed options
for residential development in the Highway 12 area. One option discussed was se.iior housing.
Mayor Jabbour has met with a major player in the area of senior housing to discuss whether and how
senior housing might work in Orono. Mayor Jabbour will provide an update regarding this meeting
at the work session.
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TO:Mayor and City Council
FROM:
DATE:
Ron Moorse, City Administrator
April 21, 1999 y
SU BJ ECT : Townline Road Update
Based on input received at the Townline Road informational meeting, and a follow-up discussion
with Tom O'Keefe of Mn/DOT, the following are issues related to the options being considered for
Townline Road;
1. Traffic impacts on Townline Road and Broadmoor.
2.How Townline Road, as well as the Highway 12 and County Road 29 intersection,
will fit into the long-term transportation needs and plans of the City, the County and
Mn/DOT
There are significant safety concerns related to the current intersection at Highway
12 and County Road 29 and Townline Road. Mn/DOT believes it is necessary to
address these safety concerns as soon as possible.
4.Convenience of access for Townline Road residents to the Highway 12 retail area in
Maple Plain.
5. Emergency vehicle access to Townline Road.
City staff are currently in the process of obtaining traffic count information on Townline Road and
Broadmoor. This traffic information will be helpful in determining whether placing a cul-de-sac at
the north end of Townline Road would increase or decrease traffic on Townline Road and on
Broadmoor.
The situation with Townline Road is that there is a significant safety problem at the Highway
12 intersection, for which the easiest solution (cul-de-sac) may not be in accord with the ultimate
use and configuration of Townline Road. If the safety concerns at the intersection are serious
enough to warrant a solution within a short timeframe, it may be that any such solution should be
considered as an interim solution, subject to change based on more clear, long-term transportation
plans.
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Upcoming Work Sessions (Proposed)
Thursday, April 29, 7:30 a.tn.
Adult Use Regulation
Thursday, May 6, 7 30 a.m.
County Road 15 Traffic Study
Presentation of Bonestroo Associates'
Thursday, May 20, 7:30 a.m.
Lake Area Housing Workshop
at the South Shore Senior Center
in Shorewood
Thursday, May 27, 7:30 a.m.
Comprehensive Plan Update - Sewer Policies