06-12-1995 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON JUNE 12, 1995 (94 - Adult Shelter - Continued) • Jabbour says he sees the issue two fold, land use and the shelter itself. Jabbour feels it would set a bad precedent to allow a shelter or multi - family dwelling in a residential zone. This opens the City up to future interpretations, i.e, Spring Hill Conference Center, bigger mansions, rehabilitation centers, treatment centers, etc. Jabbour does agree a need is there. The zoning that allows a similar use would be the B-4, where there is no major difference in land use or multi -use building. Jabbour said the zoning should be changed to the B-4 from residential. Then the issue was should we allow the shelter as a B-4 with a conditional use permit. This would define where the shelter would be located in Orono providing restricted areas which Jabbour said would match the application for this site. Jabbour questioned whether this would be done for Orono or the Lake Minnetonka residents. He asked what guarantee there was that the Orono facility would be used by Orono people. Could a certain number of beds be held for area residents only. Jabbour said we need to identify a formula under which our need is fulfilled. Jabbour indicated this use would have an impact on the neighborhood and would not be a good use in a residential area. Callahan asked how we would accomplish the fulfillment of that need. Jabbour said the applicant needs to tell the City that a certain number of beds can be reserved for Orono residents. Callahan said he was more in the middle of the issue. Making changes to an ordinance is • a serious matter and needs a serious purpose. If he thought there was an absolute need in Orono, this would be a compelling reason. In looking at the need in relation to civic responsibility to the greater Hennepin County area, Callahan said it was not so compelling. Callahan said the question of need has not been answered to his satisfaction. Statistics can be used to further the view on either side of the issue. Callahan said the people in the neighborhood should have the right to say what happens in their neighborhood. Callahan questioned what external issues would be affected, such as the parks, street traffic, etc. If the shelter was voted in and problems occurred, the proposal does not give the City any avenue by which to take remedial action. If he were to vote for the proposal, commercial would be the vehicle to use, rather than residential zoning. Although residential could be done for that particular site, Callahan does not feel a shelter belongs in a residential zone. • Hurr asked the applicant if they are able to set their own policy, and their mission is to serve their own community, are they able to reserve a certain amount of space to area residents. Margaret Weber, a consultant working with Westonka on their business plan, said the project is not constrained to the open policy as long as grant money does not come from the state. The project is able to reserve beds. Callahan asked if these beds are not filled, would it not affect the economics of the project. Weber said the business plan could be based on a lower occupancy rate. 15