Project Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

414 Our primary concern is opening the door to a 24-a-day/7-day-aweek inpatient medical clinic in an exclusively residential neighborhood -- and the detrimental effects that will have on our community. There are six other communities in Minnesota in which an Emil Project clinic is located; all have been developed in mixed-use areas, with some combination of retail, light industri I, medical or professional offices-- as well as residential. Our community, except for the Arts Center, is exclu ively residential. Why even consider making an exception for this organization? No other communities have. As a 24/7 medical facility, there will be up to 30 employees wor ing at the Emily Project-- and any subsequent rehab center that moves into that space-- around the clock, seven days a week! There will be lights, there will be noise, there will be people from outside the neighborhood drivin in and out of our community-- at all hours of the day and night. In addition, we understand representatives from he Emily Program have already requested additional parking from the Minnetonka Center for the Arts bec use they realize the number of spaces on the Hill School property are inadequate for their needs. i I Furthermore, what kinds of safeguards will beguaranteed to pr4vent this property 9 p � p p y-- once the Emily Project, some day, moves out--from turning into a detention center for troubled teens?A lock-up for low-risk criminals? A rehab facility for alcoholics? Drug addicts? Sex offenders? Because once the City of Orono decides to make these proposed changes, anything goes. Any attempt to add a rider to the CUP mandating that the zoning revert back to residential/school when the Emily Program leaves will not be enough to withstand a legal challenge from a new prospective tenant. In addition, as the owner and director of the Emily Project-- Dr. Dirk Miller-- also has a background in drug and alcohol rehabilitation, what is to prevent him, in the future, from Changing the charter of his for-profit clinics to accommodate drug-and alcohol-addicted patients at the Hill School property? We are also concerned about the viability of the Emily Program, its motivation for transforming a historic Orono schoolhouse into a 24/7 inpatient clinic in a residential neighbor ood, and the stability of is management team. We have asked its representatives for some assurances along thes lines, financial information that includes its director/owner's net worth, his assets and liabilities, how much h will be borrowing to complete the project, what are the expected profits of the clinic, how the other Metro area c inics are doing financially, if a clinic has ever been closed and why?, etc. So far, the Emily Program has refused to answer any of our questions. Another of our concerns is that the neighborhoods surrounding the Hill School property have not been properly notified of the proposed zoning changes. The 300-foot circumference rule is not the good-faith gesture that we would expect from Orono City Council, whose mission is to "pre erve our local character and identity"-- not to support business development at any cost. That's why we urge you protect the neighborhood around the Hil School --the Arts Center, the playground, the post office, the Dakota Trail, and the 88 families and their homes--a d vote no to the Emily Program's request for a CUP and setback variances. 8