01-23-1995 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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DRAFT MLNUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION ON DOMESTIC ABUSE SHELTERS HELD ON JANUARY 6, 1995 The Orono Plannina 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 Bera. and Dale Lindquist. City staff was represented by Budding and Zoning Admim’strator Jeanne Mabusth and Assistant Planning and Zoning Administrator Michael Gaffron Police Lt Gary Cheswick arrived at approximately 8:40 a.m. Applicant Dan Hessberg was represented bv consultant Margaret Webber, Judge Mary Davidson and Board Member Gre<r Sichender. 'Members of the public present included Rick Meyers of 2195 Bavview Place and John Ericson of 1620 Shadywood 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 Count>- Roads 15 and 19 in Navarre. She noted ^e site is zoned LR-IC Single Family Residential and exists adjacent to the B-1 Commercial Zonmg District. Mabusth noted the proposed site plan includes parking and a fumre playground area for the shelter She noted that no expansions of the existing building are proposed, although partitiomng of the interior is proposed to provide for office areas and 7-8 sleeping rooms. She indicated Aat space would be provided for small meeting rooms for counseling and job trainmg sessions. She further indicated that provisions would be made for school age children from both the Westonka and Orono school districts tc be picked up at the site. Mabusth indicated the work session outline is structured to first bring forward discussion regarding the namre of the proposed use, and secondly to consider the zonmg issues and compatability of that use in Orono. Dan Hessberg introduced himself as applicant ehalf of Westonka Intervention Project. He indicated that Westonka Intervention currently is a group of approximately 18 volunteers who at the request of local police departments intervene in cases of domestic abuse. He mdicated that domestic abuse victims are provided with one or more advocates who assist victum m understanding their options for dealing with their situation, assist them through counselmg, accompany them through the hearing processes, etc. Hessberg indicated that over the past u years they have found it impossible to place victims in a shelter due to lack of space m existmg shelters. Schroeder questioned how Westonka Interv'ention 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. Remming 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 meetmg