03-08-2010 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF TAE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, March 8, 2010 • 7:00 o'clock p.m. ( #10 -3442 THE EMILYPROGRAM, 2180 NORTH SHORE DRIVE, Continued) Lindgren pointed out that additional delays would cost the Emily Program money but that they are willing to continue to work with the City. The Emily Program feels this is a good use, not just for the City, but also for the community. The proposed solution addresses all of the valid concerns that have been raised. The Emily Program's intention is to operate a residential eating disorder facility, which is something that clearly belongs in a residential neighborhood, is reasonable subject to some conditions, and an interim use permit is a way to address the concerns raised. Lindgren stated by offering up this suggestion, the Emily Program is willing to compromise. Lindgren pointed out that the Emily Program has property rights as a party to a real estate transaction just as the residents have rights, and that it is the role and responsibility of the City Council to balance those. Lindgren stated he is hopeful that this compromise would help create the bullet proof use that was discussed earlier tonight. Kitty Westin stated she is the immediate past president of the National Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy and Action, and in that capacity she has traveled around the country and the world speaking about eating disorders and advocating at both the state and the national level for better access to care and treatment. Westin stated she is a licensed psychologist, works part-time at the Emily Program, and is also a mother of a 21 year -old daughter who died ten years ago from an eating disorder after being denied the level of treatment needed. • Westin stated there -are thousands of men and women who die each year because they do not get appropriate care to treat their eating disorder. Ten years ago, Minnesota had no residential beds for eating disorders. Since that time, Minnesota has developed licensure for eating disorder facilities, which is a huge accomplishment. Today the Emily Program opened the new Anna Westin House in St. Paul, which brings the number of treatment beds in Minnesota to 16, which are not nearly enough beds to treat the 176,000 Minnesotans who struggle with eating disorders. Residential treatment facilities are saving lives every day. Westin stated there is no doubt that Orono would be proud to help save additional lives with the 10 additional beds in the Hill School, which would also be called the Anna Westin House. The right thing was done when the first Anna Westin House was opened in Chaska. That facility was an eight bed residential facility every day of those seven years. The facility expanded and moved to St. Anthony Park. Westin stated she would not allow it to be called the Anna Westin House if she did not feel good about how the Emily Program worked with clients and how both the Emily Program and its clients fit into a community. Westin commented that the Anna Westin House at Hill School is a wonderful prospect for parents and families in Orono and that she knows first -hand how needed those beds are. Westin stated she truly believes that had there been residential care available ten years ago, her daughter would be alive today. Westin stated she is proud and grateful to know that with the houses built in her name, Anna did not die in vain. The City of Orono and its residents have the opportunity tonight to prevent other families from going through the horror of losing one of their own. Westin asked the City Council and the residents to embrace this new Anna Westin House in Orono and vote in favor of the conditional use permit. White stated the issue before the City Council tonight is a land use issue and not whether they like or dislike the program. As it relates to the conditional use permit, the applicant's attorney has suggested an 1UP. White asked whether a conditional use permit does indeed go with the land. • Mattick indicated that is correct. --� Page 17 of 23 i