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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996 05-09 MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOUTHWEST NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY GROUP • OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA SPECIAL MEETING MAY 9, 1996 CALL TO ORDER The Southwest Neighborhood Advisory Group met in special session and was called to order by Chairperson Hawes at 7:31 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson William Hawes,Members Graydon Boeck, Yvonne Quady, and Bernard Ackerson were present for the Southwest Neighborhood Advisory Group. Absent was Charles Gellerman. Also present was Planning Commission Secretary Ronald A. Warren. APPLICATION NO. 96005 Planning Commission Secretary Warren explained that the North Memorial Health Care Hospice rezoning and site and building plan approval was referred to the Southwest Neighborhood Advisory Group for review and comment from the Planning Commission as reflected in their regular session meeting on April 25, 1996. • The Secretary presented the application submitted by North Memorial Health Care as it relates to the property at 4201 58th Avenue North, and explained that North Memorial Health Care is requesting rezoning and plan approval to provide residential hospice care for more than six clients at the above location. The rezoning proposal is for a PUD/R-1 designation. The subject site is bounded on the north by public open-space property which abuts County Road 10, on the east by single family residential zoned property abutting June and Indiana Avenues, and on the south and west by Upper Twin Lake. Access to the property is gained over the publicly owned open-space property from County Road 10. The Secretary used overhead transparencies to show the location and detail of the plans for this one- story residential type facility. The Secretary explained that the property is currently zoned R-1 (Single Family Residence) and the applicants are requesting rezoning to PUD/R 1 (Planned Unit Development/Single Family Residence.) The property was acquired by North Memorial Health Care Center from the former owners, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Thompson. North Memorial would like to remove the existing house and build a one- story residential type facility. The Secretary stated that the City believes there is merit in considering the application, but believes it needs the input of everyone involved. 1 PUBLIC HEARING(APPLICATION NO. 96005) I Chairperson Hawes opened the public hearing on the request for rezoning and site and building plan approval, through the Planned Unit Development process, to provide a residential hospice care facility, at 7:45 p.m. Mr. Jerry Pedlar,Director of Facilities Management Services for North Memorial Health Care stated that North Memorial has been looking for a hospice site for some time, and when Charles and Mary Thompson donated this particular property,they decided to look into it as an opportunity for a health care/hospice type facility. He explained why this property would be a good buildable site for the hospice: the access to the property, the lake, the size of the lot, and the seclusion and wildlife. Ms. Becky Woll, Director of the Hospice Program, explained what laws and regulations North Memorial must follow in developing a hospice facility. Those specifications include: (1) that it must be located in a residential area;(2)the facility must resemble a single-family home; and (3)the facility should support no more than eight patients. She stated that this would not be an acute care facility, but a home for terminally ill patients to spend the last weeks or months of their lives. Chairman Hawes noted that one of the questions that has come up is whether or not North Memorial should put berming on the east side of the parking lot for screening. He noted that because the land is not above the 100 year flood elevation the berming cannot be used. He stated the plans are for 8 or 9 parking places, and asked if the need for more parking arises, is there room for 2 or 3 additional cars. The Secretary used overhead transparencies of the site plan to show the location of the parking lot • and additional parking options available. Chairman Hawes indicated that currently the access over publicly owned open space to the property from County Road 10 is unpaved, and asked if the hospice is planning on paving that roadway. Mr. Pedlar stated that North Memorial will pave that access area in order to better maintain it and to keep the dust down. Member Boeck noted that the use of a PUD would offer the City more opportunity in controlling what these sites may or may not do, such as the driveway and the draining concerns. Mr. Pedlar stated that there will be a development agreement with the City and North Memorial in terms of the site, the landscaping, paving and parking. He explained that they will try to disturb the setting as little as possible and will not be creating any artificial settings. Member Boeck asked what the sequence would be in how the development plan is presented. The Secretary explained that a report of the Neighborhood Advisory Group recommendations would be given to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission will take into consideration the 2 • recommendations of the Advisory Group in formulating its recommendations to the City Council. • This will be done in the form of a resolution outlining the types of considerations and the framework for the development agreement. The entire rezoning proposal, site and building plan will then be forwarded to the City Council, which makes the final determination on the matter. Chairman Hawes asked if there will be facilities available for family members of the patients wanting to stay at the hospice. Ms. Becky Woll stated that they are required by Federal and stated regulations to allow families 24- hour access, and that there will be sleeping facilities for family members in the patient's private rooms and also in the family room. Member Quady stated that there was a question brought up regarding the facility changing hands. The Secretary noted that concern and said that Staff will be recommending that the development agreement be for a hospice only. He explained the City and North Memorial can't guarantee that the hospice will be there forever, it's possible it could change hands in the future, but that it would have to come back to the City for approval or amendment for a change in use. He stated that the underlying zoning of the property is single-family residential, and if it changed hands, it would have to be consistent with that zoning designation. He also noted that the neighbors would have a voice in that issue in the future should it come back the City. Member Ackerson asked what the average length of stay is for a client of the hospice. • Ms. Becky Woll stated that the average stay is a week to a number of months. Chairman Hawes asked how the hospice will provide additional parking during holidays, special occasions, or entertainment. Member Ackerson noted that there is parking all the way out to County Road.10, and asked the neighbors present if parking was a concern to them. Mr. George Hnath, a neighbor of the proposed site who lives at 5731 June Avenue stated that they are all in favor of the hospice and believes it will be an asset to their neighborhood. He stated that their concerns are mainly the designing, lighting, parking, and landscaping. Member Ackerson asked what type of lighting will be put in, and if the spill-over lighting will be a disturbance to the neighborhood. Mr. Pedlar stated that because of the 24-hour operation of the facility, they are in the process of doing a security assessment and lighting issues are part of that assessment. • 3 Chairman Hawes asked about fencing for security purposes, and also stated that the Thompson's had some fencing put in to keep the wildlife within the confines of their property. . Mr. Pedlar believes fencing for security purposes would detract from the beauty of the property, but they will have some fencing for wildlife confinement, in accordance with the agreement the Thompson's have in place with the DNR. The Secretary pointed out that the Watershed District will be brought in to assess the water issues, how the development would impact the lake, the quality of the run off, and those types of issues. Mr. Roger Johnson, 5701 June Avenue, asked if there were surveys being done to make sure the property stays within the one hundred-year flood stage. Mr. Pedlar stated that the surveyors and landscape people have been at the property shooting elevations to make sure they are staying within the flood guidelines so they can then approach the Watershed District. He also noted that someone called to ask him about trees, and stated that they will be moving and transplanting as many trees as possible. Chairman Hawes asked if the proposed facility is going to be closer or further back from the lake. The Secretary used overhead transparencies to show the location of the facility in regard to the flood lines, and discussed the survey of the existing property and what setbacks will be required. The Secretary then used overhead transparencies to show a floor plan of the facility. • Member Ackerson asked if the plans include a sanitary sewer or a pump system. Mr. Pedlar stated they are checking on that, but he doesn't believe there is presently a lift station in place. He stated they had the water hydrant on the property tested and the results are pending. The Secretary explained that with regard to the publicly owned open-space property, the City has not made any definite plans for use of that space but there has been consideration of putting some public walking/biking trails in along the lake. Mr. Pedlar stated that they will not be putting a dock in at this time, but would like to keep that possibility open for the future. Chairman Hawes asked what the property taxes currently are for that property, and if the hospice is exempt from paying those taxes. Mr. Pedlar stated that the hospice would be exempt from paying those taxes, however they have a collaborative partnership with all the communities North Memorial serves to provide ongoing training to the fire and police departments without charge. He stated that with regard to the property taxes on the proposed property building site is to have a win/win situation for North Memorial Health Care 4 • f and the City, and as a tax-exempt organization they don't expect the City to suffer from that, so they • will continue to work with the City on that issue. Member Ackerson asked when North Memorial expects the hospice to be completed. Mr. Pedlar noted that November is hospice month, and they would like to see the hospice open by that time, mid- to late November. Fem Warren, a resident on June Avenue, asked if this development would affect the wildlife that is currently on the property. Mr. Pedlar stated they do not intend to disturb any of the natural habitat because it is a benefit to a hospice setting. He also noted that the license for wildlife habitat currently in place between the DNR and the Thompson's is transferrable, and North Memorial intends to keep that license intact. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING Chairman Hawes called for any more questions for the applicant or for anyone else to speak at the public hearing. No one came forward to speak and the public hearing closed 8:40 p.m. ACTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF APPLICATION NO. 96005 There was a motion by Member Boeck and seconded by Member Quady to recommend to the City Planning Commission approval of the PUID/R-I rezoning proposed by North Memorial Hospital for • residential hospice subject to approval of a development agreement. The motion passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT The Southwest Neighborhood Advisory Group adjourned at 8:46 p.m. Chairperson Recorded and transcribed by: Lorianne Ende TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial • 5 �f • • •