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 EMILYPROGR", 2180 NORTHSHORE DRIVE, Continued) Byrnes stated he is not a real estate agent, but he did attempt to find research on line stating that an eating disorder facility has a negative value in a neighborhood. According to some of the people he has spoken to in the real estate business, an empty, abandoned building has more of a negative impact on values than a well maintained, well landscaped facility like the Emily Program. Byrnes noted traffic is already heavy on County Road 51 and that he feels the issue is moot based on the low traffic counts that will result from the Emily Program. Byrnes indicates he does run on the Dakota Trail and that a bigger safety concern is the bikers attempting to cross the highway with incoming traffic. Byrnes stated the main issue that has bothered him and speaks to the knowledge and lack of knowledge is location of the facility. We have continually heard that the Emily Program would be better served on a larger lot and in a different facility, with the residents secluded. The people who have knowledge and/or experience with eating disorders know that they do not need to be secluded. This is not a contagious disease situation. This is a residential home. The Emily Program has been treating eating disorders for 20 years and they understand the kind of home and the kind of facility they want to use. The Emily Program is prepared to spend millions of dollars to upgrade the property, which demonstrates that a residential facility is exactly the kind of facility that these people need. Byrnes reiterated he has been surprised by some of the responses and some of the things that he has seen relating to this application. Dr. Miller is a local resident who lives in Wayzata and is trying to do something to help the people affected in our community. Based on the attendance by the media, this is now being addressed and viewed upon by the entire community and not just Orono. The City Council and the residents have an opportunity to be a caring and compassionate community. We can show the world that Orono does care and recognize that these eating disorders are happening in our own community. Byrnes asked the City Council to move forward with the recommendation of the Planning Commission and allow Dr. Miller and his team to treat these young women. Mayor White requested that the attendees refrain from clapping after each speaker. Thomas Quast, 1251 Briar Street, stated he moved here in 1952 and is still a resident. He attended Hill School. Quast stated he is against the Emily Program facility completely based on the fact that on Tuesday night, at any given time there are five to ten kids on that corner. Quast indicated he is opposed to the traffic that would be generated due to the children in the neighborhood that play in the area until 9:00 at night unsupervised. John Byrant, 1345 French Creek Drive, stated he has attended all of the meetings. His initial feelings toward the Emily Program were neutral to fairly positive. Since that time he has changed that position to one in opposition of the Emily Program application. First, the Hill School property is too small for the proposed use. He checked the Emily Program website and found 13 different types of treatment that were offered excluding assessments and transitional living. Inadequate parking is an obvious concern. Byrant asked if the reports that the Art Center was approached regarding parking were valid. Dr. Miller denied having any such conversation. If there are ten residents, with a total staff of 30, with maybe six to eight per shift, outpatients, program participants, family, friends, vendors, and volunteers, he does not understand how eight parking spots is remotely possible. Since that time we have heard from Chaska neighbors that parking surges have regularly exceeded 20 spots. The City Council has an obligation to understand what the requirement is and how it will • be managed. --f Page 7 of 23 1