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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-12-2002 Joint Council, PC and Park Commission MinutesY • MINUTES OF THE ORONO JOINT CITY COUNCIL, PLANNING COMMISSION, AND PARK COMMISSION WORK SESSION _ Thursday, September 12, 2002 5:30 o'clock p.m. ROLL The City Council, Planning Commission, and Park Commission met on the above mentioned date with the following members present: City Council - Mayor Barbara Peterson, Council Members Jim Murphy, Jim White, and Bob Sansevere for the first portion of the meeting: Planning Commission - Commissioners David Rahn, Cynthia Bremer, J. Mark Fritzler, Liz Hawn, Jeanne Mabusth, and alternate Jule Hannaford: Park Commission - Chair Andrew McDermott, Commissioners Pauline Bouchard, Sherokee Ilse, Irene Silber, J. Patrick Wolfe, and Rick Meyers. Representing staff were Planning Director Mike Gaffron, Zoning Administrators Paul Weinberger and Wendy Bottenberg, City Administrator Ron Moorse, City Clerk Lin Vee, Public Works Director Greg Gappa, and Recorder Kristi Anderson. Others in attendance were Former Mayors Gabriel Jabbour and Ed Callahan. Absent were Council Member Jay Nygard, Planning Commission Chair Sandra Smith, Commissioner Janice Berg, and Park Commissioner Debora Halvorson. • Mayor Peterson called the meeting to order at 5:38 P.M. Mayor Peterson explained that the purpose of the joint meeting was to promote a dialogue between the various Commissions, Council, and staff in order to ensure that everyone understands the main goals set forth in the Comprehensive Plan and are on the right track to accomplishing them. Murphy shared that over the past few months there has been much talk about the Comprehensive Plan with regard to proposed development. It was his desire to make certain that he understood the City's focus and felt others would benefit from this dialogue as well. After meeting with Mike Gaffron, who provided Murphy with an extensive history of Orono and its philosophies, Murphy believed recreating this process for the core keepers of Orono's history and philosophy would be invaluable, especially in light of the changes coming within the next 10 -15 years. HISTORY OF THE ORONO PHILOSOPHY Former Mayor Jabbour explained that his first contact with City Hall began in 1971 when faced with sewer questions. Since that time he had become a strong believer in the Orono cause, and continued to attend City meetings. He subsequently joined the Planning Commission and worked with former Mayor Van Nest who had a vision for our community, and the foresight to preserve 100% of our natural resources, with the lake as the #1 priority. Jabbour continued that, is at the time, the Met Council thought they were extreme in their beliefs, on the right track for the Community, but not as part of the grand Met Council long range plan. This preservation effort MINUTES OF THE ORONO JOINT CITY COUNCIL, PLANNING COMMISSION, AND PARK COMMISSION WORK SESSION Thursday, September 12, 2002 • 5:30 o'clock p.m. became a way of life, a culture, which has become synonymous with Orono, now, a recognized progressive City. Jabbour indicated that thanks to those early efforts to create this purposeful living document, the Comprehensive Plan is now linked to the financial well being of Orono. By not allowing the development of Big Boxes in Orono, this same Comprehensive Plan has limited the impact that might have occurred on traffic, roads, the overall preservation effort, etc. In answer to the question, why do she and others work so hard at maintaining this philosophy, Mayor Peterson indicated that her response would be that it must start somewhere, and that somewhere is the Comprehensive Plan. She stated that the lake is what Orono has to offer and it must be preserved, if she can contribute even just a little to that end it would be worth it. Mayor Peterson added that each representative has their own reason for being a member of his/her committee, the common link is that we all love our community and want to educate everyone and keep the message of preservation alive. She indicated that her goal was to continue with the plan laid out so well for Orono by those original visionaries. Jabbour concurred stating that as visionary a document as it was; the City Council of its day voted 100% to make the Comprehensive Plan a permanent document. Murphy pointed out that the quintessential historian, Mike Gaffron, boiled the Comprehensive Plan down to one main purpose, saving the lake; however, there is more, and other areas back • out from that point. Gaffron presented Orono's Community Philosophy: • To preserve the Lake, the water quality, and its recreational assets • Protect and preserve our many natural resources and open spaces • Preserve our district urban and rural land use patterns and lifestyles • Preserve our local character and identity Gaffron reported that, during the early years, many people moved to the lake area between 1940- 50, which created the need for sewer plants, 7 of which were built by 1960 to service the lake area. Due to the high levels of phosphorous being put into the lake it became polluted; therefore, by 1980 all of the sewer plants were eliminated in favor of connecting to the metro sewer system. Gaffron continued that the key to cleaning up the lake was eliminating the phosphorous and urban runoff problems. Since Orono had sufficient wetlands to take care of 90% of the phosphorous from runoff under a low density scenario, that explains why Orono has required two acre zoning for 70% of the City on up to 5 acre zoning, in order to limit runoff. Gaffron noted that Orono is getting close to full development, which will affect how the City continues to develop. Mayor Peterson questioned whether Gaffron felt the Met Council would allow Lake Elmo to continue its move towards low density and inquired how Mooney Lake affects Lake Minnetonka. is PAGE 2 MINUTES OF THE ORONO JOINT CITY COUNCIL, PLANNING COMMISSION, AND PARK COMMISSION WORK SESSION Thursday, September 12, 2002 • 5:30 o'clock p.m. Gaffron stated that high water level problems are showing up on Mooney Lake, in Plymouth, which borders Orono and, in fact, one property on Mooney Lake falls within Orono. Because Plymouth has developed at such a high density, the MCWD is currently working with them on the high water level problem, proposing a pumping system to lower the water level. Gaffron pointed out that all the water and overflow from Mooney Lake will eventually make its way into Lake Minnetonka. Gaffron pointed out that, Stubbs Bay is one of Orono's highest priorities in terms of water quality, and it really in itself functions as a sump or stormwater pond. He noted that the low quality in Stubbs Bay in turn is affecting Maxwell Bay. He emphasized the need to adopt a plan to investigate Stubbs Bay and Forest Lake for potential stormwater projects in the future. Murphy encouraged the Commissioners and Council Members to think into the future. He questioned what Orono was at the greatest risk of losing by 2020. In his view, Gaffron indicated that Orono is at risk due to more and more people moving into the area with higher demands and little understanding of where we've been or what we plan. People need to understand these fundamental elements within the Orono philosophy. Rahn questioned how other Cities impact Orono. He cited Painters Creek as an example where developers have been allowed to densely develop what they want, even against public outcry. He questioned how Orono could possibly pass on their philosophy to other communities. Gaffron noted that the LMCD and MCWD have worked to make an impact, however, people are willing to pay to get lakeshore at any cost. Jabbour pointed out that Orono is looked at as a leader in the community ensuring the preservation of its natural resources. While 40% of the lakeshore falls within Orono, we are one of 14 Cities on the lake, and over the past 15 -20 years if a Mayor's meeting was to be held it was called by Deephaven or Orono. He maintained that nothing can happen on the lake without affecting Orono. Rahn asked how Orono could reach out and talk with other Communities and Mayors to get on the same page and ensure some form of unity with regard to the lake. He wondered how to spread the word about the importance of preservation. Jabbour stated that it is difficult to find the courage to speak out against other City's Comprehensive Plans, but it is necessary. Former Mayor Callahan indicated that the key to getting others to cooperate with us is negotiation, meeting, talking to each other, and recognizing that each representative takes great pride in their own say so. Callahan maintained that cooperation comes from making contacts • with other Cities, including various organizations of Mayors and inviting these people to set up meetings to discuss ideas. He continued that persuasion and friendship will help to bring others PAGE 3 MINUTES OF THE ORONO JOINT CITY COUNCIL, PLANNING COMMISSION, AND PARK COMMISSION WORK SESSION Thursday, September 12, 2002 5:30 o'clock p.m. to your line of thinking. While it would be beneficial if the communities were more cohesive, Orono has the greatest responsibility thrust upon them. Callahan maintained that both Bob Searles and Brad Van Nest were not just good Mayors, they were recognized beyond Orono borders and throughout multi - communities. This philosophy will require each of us to take personal responsibility for making the contacts and furthering the effort. White handed out a Project Assessment Worksheet, used as a Community Decision Making Tool, which he has referred to often over his thirty years of experience in the development arena. He encouraged the Council and Commissions to think globally, and spend their meeting time on the most important issues affecting the Community. He referred to the worksheet as "things your mother never taught you about development ", and encouraged members to always ask who would benefit most from a development. White noted that land controls are failing miserably throughout the U.S. and more emphasis will need to be focused on looking at how our own growth will be changing over the next 10 -15 years. He pointed out that the trap that many cities have found themselves in is that they have spent their budgets and are waiting for the next big project to bail them out. Cities need to keep their money in the bank so that they are not forced to compromise their people or their principles. Jabbour explained that Cities do not get any money from big commercial development, there are zero dollars in it in the long run after you take into consideration the affect on roads, services, etc. Fortunately, Orono sets a budget, where 60% comes from users. He reiterated the disastrous effects diverting from the Comprehensive Plan has on a City budget. Meyers asked if Orono was at risk currently of compromising its Comp Plan. Gaffron pointed out that the risk comes from not following the Comprehensive Plan. Meyers asked if the main goal was to save the lake, its water quality, versus residential or commercial development. Jabbour repeated that commercial development is a negative cash flow. Moorse pointed out that commercial office is a good investment versus retail commercial that requires more services. He maintained that the traffic generated by high volume or intense retail would have a huge impact on our roads and intersections. Meyers asked if there was the need to set a more defined set of standards. • White reiterated that developers will always try to push you to the edge of what you find acceptable. He referred to potential development pressure for the Highway 12 and County Road 6 intersection as one example facing Orono in the near future. White noted that by talking officials into changing zoning standards, Donald Trump once wrote, "I made my money off the • incompetence of City Officials ". PAGE 4 MINUTES OF THE ORONO JOINT CITY COUNCIL, PLANNING COMMISSION, AND PARK COMMISSION WORK SESSION • Thursday, September 12, 2002 5:30 o'clock p.m. Murphy stated that everyone present this evening needs to recognize that they are going to be under tremendous pressure from development, therefore, need to keep focused on and buy into the foundation which Orono was built, the philosophies within the Comprehensive Plan. He pointed out that this is the only City in which a Highway would run through a trench, not a four lane highway, which in the long run will help to preserve the Orono philosophy Jabbour challenged those present to consider how they can affect other citizens and persuade them to buy into the philosophy. There was a rhyme or reason to the development of this purposeful Comprehensive Plan and that needs to be communicated. FUTURE MEETINGS Mabusth asked if these meetings should be held quarterly. Jabbour noted that Sansevere and Nygard should have been present. McDermott asked if Orono opposed Big Box development in Long Lake as well. Murphy felt that Orono was in an awkward position. While Orono would do everything in their power to keep Long Lake from doing any more than they have to, Long Lake may be forced to do some redevelopment and virtually succumb to some developer pressure. Callahan noted that this has not happened yet. Jabbour reiterated that pressure will mount for development at the Highway 12 and County Road 6 interchange as well. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 7:08 P.M. ATTEST: Linda S. Vee, City Clerk 0 PAGE 5 Barbara Peterson, Mayor