03-08-2010 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, March 8, 2010 7:00 o'clock p.m. ( #10 -3442 THE EMILYPROGRAM, 2180 NORTH SHORE DRIVE, Continued) David Dess, 1260 French Creek, noted he has practiced clinical psychology for a number of years, has worked in the business world, and has worked with people who need help. Dess indicated over the past several weeks he has heard arguments both for and against the Emily Program and its worthiness, good works, and the appropriateness of a for profit entity. The worthiness of the Emily Program is not at issue and it never has been. The neighbors being opposed to locating the program at the Hill School property has been an issue. Regardless of how many times this has been said by numerous neighbors, it seems to be ignored by Dr. Miller. Clearly it is to the advantage of those who favor locating the Emily Program at Hill School to intermingle the two issues and cast those who are opposed as being, in the words of Dr. Miller, irrational, prejudiced, heartless, and narrow minded rubes who do not like people with eating disorders. Dess noted the heartless and narrow minded rubes are his words. The representatives of the Emily Program express shock that anyone would oppose such a worthy mission. Dess stated they have also attempted to turn the opposition of the proposal into a selfish case of not in my backyard. This approach has been disingenuous, condescending, and insulting. Dess stated the residents would like to focus on the appropriateness and the implications of a for profit hospital commercial business located at Hill School. The Council has heard tonight that there are ample reasons for the neighbors to question this proposal. Dess stated he is concerned about the contradictions and remarks made by Dr. Miller and others from the Emily Program since they create distrust and do not address the issues. They also do not seem to support the good neighbor persona that Dr. Miller tells us exists here. During the process we have heard concerns about traffic, parking, congestion, and safety all played down and portrayed as irrational and that there is no evidence of such a thing. In addition, there have been concerns about biohazards that have been equally dismissed. Dess noted there were 13 conditions proposed by Staff for this proposal and that four of them were removed at the request of the Emily Program. The four that were removed are as follows: One, the proposed use will not cause traffic congestion or have peak traffic times which were associated with the former school; two, there shall be no biohazard or medical waste generated at this facility; three, all staff parking shall be within the property's existing parking lot; and four, multi - family Saturday group sessions shall not be held at this location. Dess commented that it has been stated that the Hill School is a typical location for the Emily Program, but no such location that has been discussed tonight is located in a tight residential neighborhood such as Crystal Bay. Finally, there is a double standard that has been going on in this debate. While we hear in public meetings that the Emily Program is a great neighbor, Dr. Miller's statement to the press tells a different story. On the one hand, we see Dr. Miller as a champion of a noble cause; and on the other hand, he seems to be doing everything in his power to demean and belittle his to -be neighbors by personally attacking the neighbors with innuendo and conjecture and creating more disharmony and disruption of the community than anyone can remember. Dess stated he has brought along articles that have appeared in the newspapers this past week. 11 Dess told Dr. Miller that he does not know us, has not listened to us, and has discounted our very real concerns with snide remarks, ridicule and personal attacks. At no time in this process has the worthiness of the Emily Program been in dispute or the fine quality work that the staff performs every day. Dess stated Dr. Miller casts dispersions of our community to the press and has tried to make this a debate of good versus evil, David versus Goliah, when in actuality the Emily Program is a for profit corporation that wants to change the zoning requirements and move into a quiet residential neighbor. Dess indicates he fears what Dr. Miller's response • will be if the City Council approves the CUP and a neighbor wants to talk about a parking issue, congestion, the traffic, or safety concerns, and that he would ask the City Council to take that into account. Page 10 of 23