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Home My WebLink About07-21-2025 Planning Commission minutesMinutes Planning Commission Regular Meeting Monday, July 21, 2025, 6:00 PM City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 Chair Pro Tem MCCutclleon called Lite meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. ROLL CALL Orono Planning Commission members present: Alternate Planning Commissioner and Chair Pro Tem Mark McCutcheon, Commissioners Thomas Brandabur, Kelly Prchal, and Sam Tift. Chair Chris Bollis and Commissioners Jon Ressler, Andrew Jarnot, and Shane Weltzin were absent. Staff present: Community Development Director Laura Oakden, City Planner Melanie Curtis, and City Planner Matthew Karney, 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Brandabur moved, Prchal seconded, to approve the Agenda. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. 4. APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 16, 2025 Tift moved, Prchal seconded, to approve the minutes of the Orono Planning Commission meeting of June 16, 2025. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS 5.1. LA25-000023, DAVID CHARLEZ DESIGNS O/B/O MARK STADHEIM,1390 REST POINT ROAD, VARIANCES The Planning Commission is requested to review the Staff report, receive a presentation, and discuss and approve variances to construct an expanded second level and slightly raised deck. The lot is non- conforming, and the addition would not be higher than the existing roofline or be closer to the lake, or enlarge the footprint of the home. The Planning Commission discussed the item and was invited to ask questions of staff and the applicant, Dave Zweber of David Charlez Design. Chair McCutcheon opened the public hearing at 6:05 p.m. There were public comments. Chair McCutcheon closed the public hearing at 6:05 p.m. Commissioners noted the plan did not expand the roofline or footprint, and is supported by the immediate neighbors. Prchal moved, Brandabur seconded, to approve LA25-000023, 1390 Rest Point Road, Variances. VOTE: Ayes: 4, Nays 0. Page 1 of 4 3 Minutes Planning Commission Regular Meeting Monday, July 21, 2025, 6:00 PM City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 5.2. LA25-000025, SOUTHVIEW DESIGN, 1530 ORCHARD BEACH PLACE, VARIANCES The Planning Commission is requested to review the Staff report, receive a presentation, and discuss and deny the request for variances to construct an accessory cabana lakeward of the primary residence. The residents have permits for several other improvements, including a patio and pool, that do not impact the lakeshore setback. The Planning Commission discussed the item and asked questions of staff and the applicant, Josh Koller, Southview Designs, and the homeowner, Brett Schraber, 1530 Orchard Beach Place. Chair McCutcheon opened the public hearing at 6:28 p.m. There were no public comments. A letter from a neighbor supporting the project was read into the record. Chair McCutcheon closed the public hearing at 6:28 p.m. Commissioners noted that no structures are allowed in the average lakeshore setback, but that a road easement on one side made a unique average lakeshore setback, and that the structure would not impact the view of any neighbor. If the easement were not there, the project would not require a variance. However, past practice has been to deny accessory stnlctures in the setback. Commissioners were not in favor of the variance to have the cabana and the primary structure less than 10 feet apart. Brandabur moved, Prchal seconded, to approve LA25-000025, 1530 Orchard Beach Place, Average Lakeshore Setback Variance with the condition that the cabana would adhere to the 10-foot separation from the principal structure and the side -yard setback. VOTE: Ayes: 4, Nays 0. 5.3. LA25-000026, GRIFFIN DOOLING, 1080 FERNDALE RD WEST, VARIANCES. The Planning Commission is requested to review the Staff report, receive a presentation, and discuss and approve variances to setbacks and hardcover to reconstnlct an existing deck with a different configuration. Since the lot has no buildable envelope, staff agreed that there is a practical difficulty, but they would recommend requiring hard cover reduction. The new deck is necessitated by stnictttral problems with the existing home. The Planning Commission discussed the item and asked questions of staff and the applicant, Griffin Dooling, 1080 Ferndale Rd. W. Chair McCutcheon opened the public hearing at 6:53 p.m. There were no public comments. Chair McCutcheon closed the public hearing at 6:53 p.m. Commissioners agreed there was a practical difficulty, and they could understand the recommendation that the applicant should show where they can reduce hardcover before it goes to the City Council, although they could not see a lot of places to remove hardcover, and they did not find the request egregious. Page 2 of 4 Minutes Planning Commission Regular Meeting Monday, July 21, 2025, 6:00 PM City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 Bran dabur moved, Tift seconded, to approve LA25-000026, 1080 Ferndale Rd West, Variances as applied. VOTE: Ayes: 4, Nays 0. 5.4. LA25-000028, CITY CODE RECODIFICATION, ORDINANCE UPDATE. The Planning Commission is requested to review the Staff report, receive a presentation, and discuss and approve the recodification of the City Code, which is essentially a re -numbering with State Statute references updated. The Planning Commission discussed the item and asked questions of staff. Chair McCutcheon opened the public hearing at 7:04 p.m. There were no public comments. Chair McCutcheon closed the public hearing at 7:04 p.m. Prchal moved, Tift seconded, to adopt LA25-000028, City Code Recodification, Ordinance Update as applied. VOTE: Ayes: 4, Nays 0. 5.5. LA25-000029, CITY OF ORONO, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT #8 The Planning Commission is requested to review the Staff report, receive a presentation, and discuss and adopt an amendment to the Comprehensive Pian to resolve an inconsistency in the map and need to clarify projected timelines identified by the Metropolitan Council. The Planning Commission discussed the item and asked questions of staff. Chair McCutcheon opened the public hearing at 711 p.m. There were no public comments. Chair McCutcheon closed the public hearing at 7:11 p.m. Tift moved, Brandabur seconded, to adopt LA25-000028, Comprehensive Plan Amendment #8. VOTE: Ayes: 4, Nays 0. 6. OLD BUSINESS 6.1 LA25-000016, CHARLES CUDD CO LLC, 2545 DUNWOODY AVENUE, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT The Planning Commission is requested to review the Staff report, receive a presentation, and discuss and approve a Conditional Use Permit for retaining walls. The request was tabled in May, and the plan has been reduced and is closer to an in -kind replacement. Staff recommended making approval contingent upon providing additional engineering information prior to the City Council meeting. Page 3 of 4 Minutes Planning Commission Regular Meeting Monday, July 21, 2025, 6:00 PM City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 The Planning Commission discussed the item and asked questions of staff and the applicant, John Sonnelc, Charles Cudd Co., Shorewood. Commissioners said the plan has been reduced from the original proposal and now replaces the existing wall, and the tramway has been moved so it aligns with the recommendations made by the Planning Commission in May. They indicated it is a positive improvement for the property. Tift moved, Prchal seconded, to approve LA25-000016, 2545 Dunwoody Avenue, Conditional Use Permit, contingent on an engineer's letter being submitted. VOTE: Ayes: 4, Nays 0. 7. ADJOURNMENT Prchal moved, Tift seconded, to adjourn the Planning Commission Meeting at 7:31 p.m. to August 18, 2025. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. ATTEST: Page 4 of 4