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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> October 16,2023 <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,Jon Ressler,Ted Schultze and Bob <br /> Erickson. Commissioner Gary Kraemer 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 /> APPROVAL OF AGENDA <br /> Libby moved, Ressler seconded,to approve the Agenda.VOTE: Ayes 6,Nays 0. <br /> APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 18,2023 <br /> Ressler moved,McCutcheon seconded,to approve the minutes of the Orono Planning Commission <br /> meeting of September 18,2023.VOTE: Ayes 6,Nays 0. <br /> PUBLIC HEARINGS <br /> 1. LA22-000059 TOM RYAN,2245 WATERTOWN ROAD,REQUESTS <br /> PRELIMINARY PLAT APPROVAL TO CREATE ONE ADDITIONAL <br /> BUILDING SITE <br /> City Planner Curtis said the property owner is requesting preliminary plat approval to combine five <br /> separate PIDs into two buildable lots. The combined area of the property is 5.13 acres located within the <br /> RR-1B one-family rural residential zoning district. This application is not a subdivision.Rather,it should <br /> be viewed as a more formal boundary line adjustment(subdivision exception)due to the need to formally <br /> re-plat two of the parcels which are currently classified as"outlots", she said. The wooded site includes a <br /> small drainage creek which the property owner is planning to reorient slightly. Work began on the <br /> drainage creek in the Fall of 2022 without proper City permits. The work was stopped, and the applicant <br /> has been working with Staff to complete the project through permitting. The property is not located <br /> within the Metropolitan Urban Service Area(MUSA);the properties will be served by private onsite <br /> septic systems. The applicant proposes to retain the existing home on lot 1.Development of lot two is not <br /> proposed at this time. The application results in two conforming lots. The City's Engineer has reviewed <br /> the plans for the preliminary plat and the applicant's request for City resources regarding the ditch. There <br /> were no substantive comments regarding the plat. The City received two comments on this project. The <br /> comments were focused on the erosion from the unpermitted land alteration and downstream <br /> sedimentation which resulted from the unprotected ditch. Staff supports the approval of the preliminary <br /> plat subject to the City Engineer's requirements. Staff further recommends that the applicant be required <br /> to remove the downstream sediment and obtain the proper permits for the drainage creek reorientation. <br /> Erosion control measures should be installed prior to the work and be maintained throughout the duration <br /> of the project until vegetation is established. <br /> Tom Ryan,2245 Watertown Road,the applicant, said he thought they had approval to start the <br /> preliminary work on the ditch.He stated the erosion was caused by the roadwork done previously on <br /> Watertown Road. The addition of curb and gutter resulted in more water flow at that area,he said,adding <br /> Page 1 of 11 <br />