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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> April 17,2023 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> ROLL CALL <br /> The Orono Planning Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: <br /> Chair Chris Bollis, Commissioners Mark McCutcheon, Dennis Libby, Bob Erickson, Gary Kraemer and <br /> Scott Kirchner. Commissioner Jon Ressler was absent. Representing Staff were Community Development <br /> Director Laura Oakden, City Planner Melanie Curtis, and City Planner Natalie Nye. <br /> Chair Bollis called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. <br /> OATH OF OFFICE <br /> Community Development Director Oakden led returning and new Planning Commission Members Scott <br /> Kirchner and Gary Kraemer in the Oath of Office. <br /> APPROVAL OF AGENDA <br /> Kirchner moved, Erickson seconded,to approve the Agenda.VOTE: Ayes 6,Nays 0. <br /> APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 20,2023 <br /> Kirchner moved,Kraemer seconded,to approve the minutes of the Orono Planning Commission <br /> meeting of March 20,2023: Ayes 6,Nays 0. <br /> PUBLIC HEARINGS <br /> 1. LA23-000002 CITY OF ORONO, 1449 SHORELINE DRIVE AND 1475 SHORELINE <br /> DRIVE,VACATION <br /> Oakden said this application is to vacate unused right-of-way along County Rd. 15. The City of Orono is <br /> requesting to vacate portions of right-of-way. Hennepin County conducted a project and obtained rights- <br /> of-way to reconstruct Tanager Bridge. Portions of that right-of-way are no longer needed to support the <br /> road improvement. The County has transferred the property to the City for the purpose of vacating which <br /> is standard vacation process. The land does not serve a public purpose and has no use for City services. <br /> Staff is recommending approval. <br /> Chair Bollis opened the public hearing at 6:06 p.m. <br /> Richie Anderson, 1449 Shoreline Dr., stated his agreement with the County was, any property the County <br /> took on one side,he would get back on the other side,which is the space we are talking about now. I've <br /> been waiting since 2020 to get this resolved. I didn't hold them up on price and gave them more property <br /> than needed and I've been paying an attorney to get this done. You are not giving us something we did <br /> not have an agreement to get. <br /> Chair Bollis closed the public hearing at 6:08 p.m. <br /> Libby commented that he had worked closely with the County and a different property owner regarding <br /> right-of-way acquisition for this road project. I was very aware of two precedents at that time. When <br /> there is a vacation like this, if the County decides it no longer has a use for a property it must pass through <br /> ownership of the City before goes to an adjoining property owner for first right of refusal, which is <br /> Page 1of12 <br />