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Communication r:ceived after Council packet wa, distributed #2 RECEIVED 1300 French Creek Drive MAR -5 2010 Wayzata, Minnesota 55391 March 5, 2010 CITY OF ORONO Mayor Jim White City of Orono 2750 Kelley Parkway Crystal Bay, Minnesota 55233 Dear Mayor White: As residents of Orono who live within a quarter mile of the ill School,we are writing to you to express our opposition to the proposed CUP for the Emily Program. i We understand that eating disorders are a serious illness an J that people suffering from them need care, both medical and psychological,and compassion.Our iearts go out to them. However,that care should be delivered in an appropriate fa ility.The Hill School facility fails to meet a number of requirements of the Emily Program,including ad quate space and parking.The Emily Program is in the process of shutting down its Chaska locati n because it has outgrown the eight-bed facility,and is moving those patients to a much more spacio s facility in St. Paul.The Hill School is a proposed ten bed facility;given the success of the Emily Program in Chaska, it is reasonable to expect the program to outgrow its location here.And yes,although we are aware that people suffering from eating disorders are"weak,"as an Emily Program supporterlhas put it,we are concerned about who may move into the building once the Emily Program has outgrown its space. In addition to the space limitation of the building,the parcel lacks sufficient space for parking.With ten patients,numerous medical care providers,traveling tutors or the patients,and visitors,the few parking spaces on the lot will not be sufficient. In fact,the E ily Program has approached the Minnetonka Center for the Arts to request regular use of th Center's parking.The Center's director and board chairman have said they cannot provide regular use of their parking spaces to the Emily Program. With commercial vacancies at a 20 year high,surely the Emily Program could find a more suitable location for their project than a small historic school building in a residential area.The City Philosophy, stated on the first page of the City website at www.ci.orono.mn.us,is preservation. Please preserve the Hill School as it has been for decades-a school-to preserve Orono's local character and identity. Yours truly, ,67.Ze7//;_,,-7,2.-/V‘c,C--L-— . ernhard Nann Victoria Nann I