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Home My WebLink About10-21-24 Planning Commission Minutes WMinutes Planning Commission Regular Meeting Monday,October 21, 2024, 6:00 PM ` City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 Chair Bollis called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. ROLL CALL Orono Planning Commission members present: Chair Chris Bollis, Commissioners Bob Erickson, Scott Kirchner, Ted Schultze and Gary Kraemer. Commissioners Mark McCutcheon and Jon Ressler were absent. Staff present: Community Development Director Laura Oakden and City Planner Melanie Curtis. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Kirchner moved,Kraemer seconded,to approve the Agenda.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. 4. APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 16,2024 Schultze moved,Kirchner seconded, to approve the minutes of the Orono Planning Commission meeting of September 16,2024.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS 5.1. LA24-000046, JOHN ERICKSON, 865 PARTENWOOD ROAD,VARIANCES,PUBLIC HEARING The Planning Commission is requested to review the Staff report,receive a presentation,and discuss and approve variances for a new raised deck replacing a patio and for hardcover in the 75-foot setback. The Planning Commission discussed the item and asked questions of staff and a representative of the applicant. Chair Bollis opened the public hearing at 6:05 p.m. There were no public comments Chair Bollis closed the public hearing at 6:05 p.m. Commissioners pointed out there would be an actual reduction in hardcover,the site has a narrow building envelope, setbacks would be improving and the staff is recommending approval. Kirchner moved,Kraemer seconded,to approve LA24-000046,865 Partenwood Road,Variances as applied.VOTE: Ayes: 5,Nays 0. Page 1 of 4 3 � �YO Minutes Planning Commission Regular Meeting ti , Monday,October 21, 2024, 6:00 PM F� 0 City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 4KfsH00" 5.2. LA24-00005, OUTDOOR ESCAPES OB/O MARIA SWENSON, 875 FOREST ARMS LANE, ALS VARIANCE,PUBLIC HEARING The Planning Commission is requested to review the Staff report,receive a presentation,and discuss and approve an average lakeshore setback variance for a new, smaller deck to replace an existing deck. The Planning Commission discussed the item and had no questions for the applicant,who was present. Chair Bollis opened the public hearing at 6:11 p.m. There were no public comments Chair Bollis closed the public hearing at 6:11 p.m. Commissioners said the project replaces one deck with another without coming any further forward toward the lake and may actually improve sightlines for the neighbors. Kraemer moved,Kirchner seconded,to approve LA24-000052,875 Forest Arms Lane,ALS Variance.VOTE: Ayes: 5,Nays 0. 5.3. LA24-000053 LECY BROTHERS HOMES &REMODELING, OB/O KEN LEVITT, 700 NORTH ARM DRIVE,VARIANCES,PUBLIC HEARING The Planning Commission is requested to review the Staff report,receive a presentation, and discuss and approve variances to build a new 2-story home replacing another two-story home on the lot. Staff was in support of the setback and hardcover variances conditional on the applicant revising the deck so there is no new encroachment and correcting a .3 overage in hardcover prior to placement on the City Council agenda. The Planning Commission discussed the item and asked questions of staff and the applicant,Ken Levitt, 700 North Arm Drive. Chair Bollis opened the public hearing at 6:28 p.m. There were no public comments. Chair Bollis closed the public hearing at 6:28 p.m. Commissioners said practical difficulty has been established and the proposal removes a two-level portion of the existing house footprint and replaces it with a deck,which makes the additional foot and a half for the deck reasonable. Kirchner moved, Schultze seconded,to approve LA24-000046, 700 North Arm Drive Variances as applied with the condition of adjusting hardcover.VOTE: Ayes: 5,Nays 0. Page 2 of 4 4 W Minutes Planning Commission Regular Meeting ,, Monday,October 21, 2024, 6:00 PM City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 kES H O9- 5.4. LA24-000055 CITY OF ORONO TEXT AMENDMENT, CANNABIS, PUBLIC HEARING The Planning Commission is requested to review the Staff report,receive a presentation,and discuss the proposed regulations for Cannabis businesses in the City within the conditions allowed by State law. The State can begin issuing licenses in 2025. Community Development Director Oakden explained once an application is received State law allows the City 30 days to react, which is shorter than the Conditional Use Permit process. For that reason, staff is proposing Cannabis businesses as permitted uses in business and industrial districts except for the buffer areas around schools,parks, daycares and other similar uses identified by law. Oakden said the buffers proposed are the strictest the City can designate. The new regulations are for high-potency Cannabis businesses including retail and manufacturing. The Planning Commission discussed the item and asked questions of staff. Discussion centered on the buffer areas. They asked if the buffer can be applied to churches that have Sunday School and other similar activities for children. Commissioners complimented staff on taking the initiative to be prepared for any applications that come forward in 2025. Chair Bollis opened the public hearing at 7:07 p.m. There were no public comments. Chair Bollis closed the public hearing at 7:07 p.m. Commissioners expressed frustration with some of the State rules and concerns about turning the process to issue registrations over to Hennepin County, as the City Council has discussed. Hennepin County has offered to manage the registration process within State Statute. The City would need to indicate that the request was for a location in an allowed area. Action at this meeting was to deal only with the text amendment setting areas and buffers for a permitted use. Kraemer moved, Schultze seconded,to approve LA24-000055, draft City of Orono Text Amendment,Cannabis.VOTE: Ayes: 4,Nays 1 (Erickson). 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1 LA24-000054,ROB PAGE,430 OLD CRYSTAL BAY ROAD, SITE PLAN REVIEW The site plan would be for an 85-unit garage condo development,which consists of purchased interior storage units for cars boats and RVs that could be used as storage by individuals or a business such as an electrician. The site is the last vacant property in the industrial area. Staff does not support the plan as proposed due to the potential for residential conversion. Staff could support it as a storage facility with conditions and suggested a text amendment to include garage condos as a conditional use. The Planning Commission discussed the item and asked questions of staff and the applicant,Rob Page. He said the facility would have no common areas and no place to congregate, and residential habitation would be prohibited. It would be proposed to be built in three phases. It would be managed by an HOA, which is the reason for the condo designation. Page 3 of 4 5 V&A/ Minutes Planning Commission Regular Meeting y Monday,October 21, 2024, 6:00 PM W . City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 kESHo Commissioners said they were not opposed to the concept and the location in the industrial zone,but that it could potentially be better managed as a conditional use or through some other vehicle. Kirchner moved, Schultze seconded,to deny LA24-000054,Old Crystal Bay Site Plan as proposed. VOTE: Ayes: 5,Nays 0. 7. OTHER ITEMS Community Development Director Oakden introduced Matt Karney,the new City Planner,who attended as an observer. She said there is an applicant for the Planning Commission seat vacated by Commissioner Libby. She updated the Planning Commission on items that had proceeded to the City Council. 8. ADJOURNMENT Ressler moved,Kraemer seconded,to adjourn the Planning Commission Meeting at 8 p.m. to November 18,2024.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. ATTEST: Christopher Bollis, Chair Page 4 of 4 6