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) Tina Paulson, 240-5h Street East, St. Paul, stated she is entering the Emily Program in two days at their _St. Paul location and has been going to the Emily Program for the past four months. Paulson indicated she has been dealing with an eating disorder since she was 13 years old and that she is now 42 years old. The Emily Program has been very beneficial. Paulson stated she has read articles on the Star Tribune website but does not feel that the comments left truly represent the Emily Program. Paulson stated she is not trying to say the school should or should not be used but that she would like to break some stereotypes of what will be coming to the Orono community. Paulson stated she personally feels that anything can work at this site if the community truly cares. As it relates to the pictures that were just shown, she has the impression that the residents would have said that is too busy of a location, you can't find parking, and that they really do not care. Jeanne Fayfield, 2220 French Creek, stated the key issue before the Council is the appropriate land use of the former Hill School site. Fayfield stated we are a city and a state and a nation that is guided by a constitution, with laws derived from that constitution that protect, preserve, and govern our society. The City of Orono has created and adopted a guiding philosophy that is available on the home page of its official website. There are four points of City of Orono's philosophy, which include the following: Protect and preserve Lake Minnetonka, its water quality and its recreational assets; protect and preserve our many natural resources and open spaces; and most importantly, to preserve our distinct urban and rural land use patterns and lifestyles, and . to preserve our local character and identity. In addition, Municipal Code Section 78 -05 states: Use of land for residential purposes is considered primary with other uses considered supporting this use. It is not the intention to expand or allow all such commercial and industrial activity to a degree where it conflicts with the primary residential use and other guiding principles. Fayfield asked the mayor and the council members, as well as the greater Orono community, to revisit the City's Comprehensive Plan. This plan has established policies and principles to guide orderly and economic private development and public improvement in the years ahead. The document is dated going forward to the year 2030. Fayfield requested the Council's attention be focused on the facts of the Hill School property proposed zoning change. The Emily Program is requesting a conditional use permit and associated variances to locate a 24/7 inpatient, for profit, eating disorder facility in a zoning district zoned primarily for residential. Many neighbors surrounding the Hill School are opposed for the reasons of excessive traffic, safety issues, parking inadequacies, lighting, noise, the higher volume of business activity, increased emergency responses, and decreased property values. Most importantly is the concern for the permanency of the conditional use permit that stays with the property and is not granted to the owner. The conditional use permit cannot be surrendered even if the applicant requests it. Fayfield stated they are neighbors in close proximity to the former Hill School, and they recognize that allowing a facility like this will significantly alter the land use, the character of the neighborhood, and their lifestyles by volume of use. What is not on the agenda tonight is what would be the best use of the former Hill School property going forward. Many ideas have been discussed by the neighbors. The neighbors do not feel • this is the only option. A number of residents have pledged financial support to the Art Center and are willing to do whatever else is necessary to find an appropriate use for the property. ---f Page 9 of 23