02-23-2005 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION FEBRUARY 10, 2005 practices. She also noted that the site would be used as a prime educational tool and a demonstration site and that they anticipated bring school children to the site. Knudsen asked how many groups would be brought to the site per month. Vigness -Pint reported that the educational program is one of their goals, therefore, she was not sure at this point. Barraclough asked how the Watershed was funded. Vigness-.Pint replied that the Watershed has an ad valorum tax base. They also get some State funding and grant monies. Rheaume asked how many employees the Watershed has currently, including past growth and future growth. Vigness -Pint replied that the Watershed currently has I 1 full -time employees and 2 interns. There will likely be 2 additional interns during the summer months. Six years ago, when Vigness -Pint joined the Watershed it had 8 employees. She anticipated that there was room to add staff at the proposed building without expanding the building. Rheaume asked why there was an access to the Norm's property noted on the plan, and also asked if Norm's parking lot would be used for overflow parking. Vigness -Pint replied that the access was put in at the request of Norm Strohbeen. She further noted that the Watershed has an annual tour each year, and they utilize a large bus for that tour. She indicated that in instances such as this there may be the need for extra parking. Rheaume was concerned that the Watershed would outgrow the building in ten years time and another use would move in that would require more parking than what has been provided on site. Weihe asked how the Watershed would handle bus loads of school children. Vigness -Pint replied that she is not sure, they had not gotten that far in the planning process. The City Planner asked about the pervious blacktop planned for the site. Vigness -Pint explained that pervious blacktop is mixed with larger pore sizes that allowed run -off to seep through into the granular sub -base. The appearance, however, is similar to a regular blacktopped parking lot. Duray asked about the property division. Huber reported that due to site constraints, they are purchasing a 20 -foot strip of property fi-on Norm Strohbeen and combining it with the City lot. Knudsen asked about setbacks noting the concern that has been expressed about the 15 foot setback from Noel Drive. Knudsen asked if the