03-08-2010 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, February 22, 2010 7:00 o’clock p.m. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 11 of 19 (4. #10-3442 THE EMILY PROGRAM, 2180 NORTH SHORE DRIVE, Continued) nothing to prevent the community from doing something unique and identifying a location where everyone can compromise, which will result in a win/win situation. Orono has a lot of open space and there are a number of other lots that can be considered. Maddie stated in his view the community is not saying no to the program but that they feel there is a better location for it. Vicky Nann, 1300 French Creek Drive, indicated she is a licensed realtor in the State of Minnesota and that she has done some research on what could happen to property valuations should a psychiatric inpatient facility be opened up in a neighborhood. Nann noted there was not a great deal of quantitative information available, but that she was able to find a study that was done in metropolitan Toronto on property values and mental health facilities. According to the report, it said that the most important influences on sales price are the characteristics of the property itself. In this situation we have a school building that is decades old, which is being proposed to become an inpatient psychiatric facility, which involves a number of different characteristics from that of a school. Nann indicated she would like to echo Maddie‟s comments on the parking concerns, nighttime lighting, and emergency calls at all hours of the day; all of which is very different from the school. Nann stated she loves the environment of the French Creek neighborhood, the character of the Hill School, and the Minnetonka Art Center. As a realtor, she represents buyers who are looking for a certain quality of life. If this school is transformed into an inpatient psychiatric treatment facility, it would have a negative impact on buyers. At the present time it is difficult to sell a house in the Twin Cities. Average sales prices in the Twin Cities are down 30 percent from the peak in 2006. Nann stated she is convinced that if this building is changed to an inpatient psychiatric facility, the neighbors will be looking at longer times for sales to occur and lower prices. Nann stated she personally is in support of The Emily‟s program but does not feel a residential area for this use is appropriate. The Retreat in Wayzata is located on a lot in a mixed use area and is tucked back behind a number of trees. The Hazelton in Plymouth is located on 13 acres. This location does not have the appropriate space. There are hundreds of commercial properties that are available currently. Nann indicated she went through the MLS in their commercial property listings and found six sites right in the area that are already zoned commercial. Nann stated she would be happy to provide that information to The Emily Program. One lot is priced at $649,900, which is located on Shoreline Drive and consists of approximately three and a half wooded acres. Nann stated that is just one of potentially dozens of properties in the western Twin Cities area that might be appropriate for this project. Nann indicated she is opposed to the project at this location. Dr. Miller commented that what he is hearing in his view does not reflect support of The Emily Program and that the residents are trying to define it as just the location. In his view the issue is that the residents do not want this in their back yard. After hearing the presentation, a lot of the issues raised were conjecture. Dr. Miller noted the chief of police in Chaska sent a letter to the City addressing some of those issues. The Chaska police chief has stated that they have received no complaints or concerns about their facility and that he feels it has zero negative impact on the neighborhood or community. In addition, the City planner of Chaska has asked The Emily Program to stay in Chaska and to consider other sites within Chaska. Dr. Miller stated The Emily Program is very good at running eating disorder programs and that it is not a psychiatric hospital. There currently is a moratorium on hospital beds in Minnesota and it is practically impossible to get a license for a hospital in this state. Dr. Miller stated there are zero10-bed alcohol treatment programs in the United States and only one sex offender program in Minnesota that is not associated with the Item #02 - CC Agenda - 03/08/2010 Approval of Council Minutes 02/22/2010 [Page 11 of 19]