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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, February 8, 2010 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br /> Page 14 of 20 <br /> <br />(6. #10-3442 THE EMILY PROGRAM, 2180 NORTH SHORE DRIVE, Continued) <br /> <br />variance since it will have an impact on the other properties. As it concerns the biohazard material, there <br />may also be a vendor that picks up the material and there are also issues with storage and children <br />possibly having access to that. <br /> <br />White asked whether there will be any medical waste associated with this use. <br /> <br />Lindsay Brown stated there will not be any. <br /> <br />LaQuey noted there are also two million dollar houses in the neighborhood for sale. He grew up in the <br />neighborhood and he has heard a number of complaints in the past few years that they cannot afford to <br />live in their own neighborhood they grew up in. LaQuey suggested that one possible use for this property <br />would be medium priced condominiums. <br /> <br />Murphy pointed out this is not the City’s initiative and that if an application had come before the City <br />requesting permission to turn this property into condominiums, they would follow the same process. <br /> <br />LaQuey stated he had assumed in his prior comments that the Orono Fire Department has not had training <br />in fighting hospital fires but that he still feels the building is a fire hazard. LaQuey reiterated this facility <br />will negatively impact the property valuations in the neighborhood. <br /> <br />White stated he is familiar with this structure and that it is not a fire hazard. <br /> <br />LaQuey indicated he used to go into the building when he was younger and that the windows are rotting. <br /> <br />Murphy asked that as the neighbors present their concerns, that they discuss their real concerns that they <br />would like the Council to deal with. Murphy stated the Council is following the appropriate procedures <br />with this application and have notified the property owners required by law. Murphy expressed a concern <br />that the residents do not fully understand the program that is being proposed for this location. <br /> <br />LaQuey stated he has an eating disorder so he understands what the program is about. <br /> <br />Murphy asked if Mr. LaQuey understands the severity of the disease that the Emily Program is attempting <br />to address and the lives that they are attempting to save. Murphy commented that this is not a trivial issue <br />that the program has to deal with. <br /> <br />LaQuey stated he can sympathize with the patients since he does have an eating disorder himself. His <br />core concern relates to the devaluation of the surrounding properties. LaQuey stated this facility will be <br />referred to as a psych ward and will have a detrimental impact on the neighborhood and property values. <br />LaQuey indicated it is his understanding that a different license can be granted under the same conditional <br />use permit. <br /> <br />Bremer noted a new type of license has already been implemented by the State of Minnesota and that the <br />license would be tied to the conditional use permit. <br /> <br />LaQuey stated that license can change. <br />Item #02 - CC Agenda - 02/22/2010 <br />Approval of Council Minutes 02/08/2010 [Page 14 of 20]