02-22-1995 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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DRAFT MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION ON DOMESTIC ABUSE SHELTERS HELD ON JANUARY 6, 1995 The Orono Planning Commission met on the above date with the following members present: Chairman Charles Schroeder. Vice Chairman Steve Peterson, Candy Rowlette, Sandra Smith, Charles Nolan, Janice Berg, and Dale Lindquist. City staff was represented by Building and Zoning Administrator Jeanne Mabusth and Assistant Planning and Zoning Administrator Michael Gaffro^n. Police Lt. Gary Cheswick arrived at approximately 8:40 a.m. Applicant Dan Hessberg was represented by consultant Margaret Webber, Judge Mary Davidson and Board Member Greg Sichender. Members of the public present included Rick Meyers of 2195 Bavview Place and John Ericson of 1620 Shady wood Road. City Councilmember JoEllen Hurt was also present. The work session was called to order by Chairman Schroeder at 7.57 a.m. Mabusth gave a brief overview of the request for approval of a battered women’s shelter in the former Grace Baptist Church near the intersection of County Roads 15 and 19 in Navarre. She noted the site is zoned LR-IC Single Family Residential and exists adjacent to the B-1 Commercial Zoning District. Mabusth noted the proposed site plan includes parking and a future playground area for the shelter. She noted that no expansions of the existing building are proposed, although partitioning of the interior is proposed to provide for office areas and 7-8 sleeping rooms. She indicated that space would be provided for small meeting rooms for counseling and job training sessions. She further indicated that provisions would be made for school age children from both the Westonka and Orono school districts to be picked up at the site. Mabusth indicated the work session outline is structured to first bring forw^ discussion regarding the nature of the proposed use, and secondly to consider the zoning issues and comparability of that use in Orono. Dan Hessberg introduced Himself as applicant on behalf of Westonka Intervention Project. He indicated that Westonka Intervention currently is a group of approximately 18 volui^re at the request of local police departments intervene in cases of domestic abuse. He indicate that domestic abuse victims are provided with one or more advocates who assist victims m understanding their options for dealing with their situation, assist them through counselu^, accompany them through the hearing processes, etc. Hessberg indicated that over the p^ II years they have found it impossible to place victims in a shelter due to lack of space m existmg shelters. Schroeder questioned how Westonka Intervention was funded. Hessberg replied that they were funded by the cities through Block Grant Funding and through various local organizations and private donations. He indicated they have an extremely limited budget at this time. Returning to the outline, Mabusth indicated that the proposed shelter would accommodate a number of functions, including group counseling sessions for up to 8 persons, monthly meetmgs 1