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Olson said the 28th Avenue group would like the Planning Commission to vote no on the proposed Alzheimer's unit, make a recommendation for a correction of the current drainage problems and to make the greenspace a permanent easement. Olson thanked the Planning Commission for its time and for supporting the 28th Avenue neighbors in the past. Eileen Brama, 2703 Mississippi Street, said the ultimate goal of a developer is to acquire land and develop the land with a minimum of expense and a maximum of profit. They propose to place a three to three and a half story building in a community where it is not compatible with the surrounding area. The ultimate goal of the city is to review and accept or reject proposals based on the benefit to the community and the increase in tax base. The developer thinks the coop project is needed and would benefit the community, but at whose expense? In the past, the City accepted a developer's proposal to place a building in a community where it was not compatible. The compensation to the community was to be a higher tax base and a park. Again, the City is considering a project that is not compatible with the area and will greatly impact the residents of the area both aesthetically and economically. Brama said she was aware that this project would replace a distressed parcel of land. Brama said she hoped the City would be responsible and consider a project that would compliment the site and appease the residents whom it will affect. Brama said her neighbors would be adversely affected economically should the Alzheimer's unit be approved. Brama thanked the Planning Commission for their time. Alma Stepanchak, 2180 27th Avenue NW, stated her home is across the street from the proposed three and a half story coop. Stepanchak said she was disappointed that the neighbors on 27th were not included in any of the discussions with the developer or in any of the meetings called on this subject. Our property is just as much affected by the coop as the 28th people are affected by the proposed Alzheimer's unit. Stepanchak said that offended her and she felt that, as a resident, she should have been just as important as anyone else. I am directly across the street from the proposed coop. The Planning Commission received a copy of our concerns last month. Stepanchak said her main concern was the height of the three and a half story coop and would affect her privacy. Stepanchak said the proposed coop would decrease the property value of her home, which she just built last year. Stepanchak said she looked at a three and a half story apartment building across from the Family Service Center and tried to visualize what the coop would be like and she cried. The Rice Creek Center should be developed, but should be one or one and a half stories like the other businesses nearby. There will be increased traffic from the proposed ninety-seven units. Stepanchak thanked the Commission for its time and consideration, but was disappointed the 27th Avenue people were not included in any meetings. Mattila responded the City was not invited, but the developer included the neighbors on 27th in the neighborhood meeting they held in the fall and notices were sent of the public hearing. Stepanchak said she only received one letter on the first meeting at Brightondale and after that she received no notifications. Mattila responded the developer is required to obtain a certified list of property owners within 600 feet of the site from Ramsey County and those property owners are notified by the City. It could be her name was somehow not included on that list. However, those property owners were only notified once and that was for the October Planning Commission meeting. From that point on, meeting dates were announced at the conclusion of each public meeting and Mattila recalls her attending most if not all of those meetings. Furthermore, the City is not obligated to notify property owners by mail of a public hearing, it is a courtesy the City extends to it’s residents. A public hearing notice published in the paper is the only requirement of the City. Yvonne Bessler, 2704 21st Street NW, stated she lives across the street from the north edge of the park and has a view of the park and Brightondale. Bessler said she agreed with statements made by Olson and Stepanchak. Bessler said she was also concerned about parking for the park. Bessler noticed about forty cars parked behind Rice Creek Center when there are activities at the park. Where are those cars going to go? Will people have to stop using the park? The only place they can park is on 21st and in Erickson's parking lot. I:\COMMISSIONS\PLANNING\MINUTES\1998\01-20-98.WPD 11