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 NORTHSHORE DRIVE, Continued) Bill Cooper, 627 Park Street, Wayzata, commented that no good deed goes unpunished. Cooper indicates he represents a nonprofit entity called Friends of Education, which became involved with the Hill School situation by buying the bonds to support the private school that ultimately failed. The intention was to convert it to a charter school, which became undoable due to a lack of state funds. Cooper stated if this application is not approved, that does not mean that the building will sit there empty. Cooper pointed out that the zoning as it presently exists would permit as many as 100 students in the school, with associated traffic, busing, and parking. The organization investigated a facility that they felt would be good for the community. This is a small facility consisting of ten beds. Cooper commented that some of the comments he has heard about the program are totally false. He has a daughter with an eating disorder and his daughter is not mentally ill. Cooper stated this is a very serious illness and that there is a need for this facility in this area. Cooper stated the Friends for Education felt this use will not be disruptive and good for the community. Dr. Miller has expressed a willingness to do what is necessary to ensure that undesirable zoning will not happen on that property. Cooper stated in his opinion a sex offender facility at this location is a moot issue and is a smoke cloud in terms of the issues. He felt this facility will have a positive impact on the community and he has personally checked out the Emily Program. The Emily Program is going to invest a significant amount of money into the building and improve the appearance of the property. • Cooper noted that all of the money from the sale of the property will go to fund a number of charter schools • and that he would encourage the City to find a way to allow this. Cooper reiterated this property will not sit there empty and that the structure will either be a school or put to a different use. Bremer asked if there are any other interested buyers. Cooper indicated they did have some interested buyers but that those did not proceed to the point where they had any discussions regarding price. A different entity was interested in it as an industrial art school for inner city children. The initial plan was to convert it to a charter school, but due to a lack of state funds, that idea was not pursued. Shari Danielson, 1250 French Creek Drive, stated she is in opposition to the application to alter the use of the Hill School property. She would like to emphasize that she supports the work of the Emily Program. Danielson noted she does have a younger sister who suffered from an eating disorder when she was younger. The City Council faces two important questions tonight. First, does the Emily Program, which is a clinic, fit the definition of a hospital or other conditional use allowed in this RR -1B zoning district. Second, should the City Council make a fundamental and permanent change in the future use of the Hill School property by changing from educational use to hospital use. Regarding the first question, the Emily Program does not resemble a hospital, nursing home, sanitarium, or rest home. The medical uses listed as conditional uses in the RR -1B zoning district require special state licenses and other approvals. The Emily Program does not have such licenses, nor would it be eligible for a license for any of those described program. The Emily Program is not at all similar to the common definition of a hospital. On February 8u' Dr. Miller himself has said that this facility is not a hospital. The minutes • reflect that Mayor White asked whether the patients would be force fed. Miller indicated, if that is necessary, it would be done in a hospital setting and not at the facility. Page 4 of 23