PC Packet 07-19-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ATTACHMENT H EXCEPTIONAL LIVING FOR INDEPENDENT SENIORS A Cooperative Community June 24, 2011 oirK wPIN Dear City Planner Gundlach: As you know, Applewood Pointe of New Brighton is a cooperative housing facility for seniors. We have 120 wholly owned, individual housing units with 200 residents. Recently, we were informed that the Volunteers of America are making an offer to purchase the building next door to our property. It is currently designated as the "Rush Lake Office Building" at 1820 Old Highway 8 NW. The VOA intends to put a residential re-entry program into that site for convicted felons being released from federal prisons. They have informed us that they plan to have approximately 75 residents, although the building will have the capacity for over 100 ex-offenders. We assume that they intend to seek a zoning change from the City of New Brighton for this property. Our Board of Directors and membership would like to officially object to this intended use of that site as vastly inappropriate and potentially harmful. When we first researched buying our homes at Applewood Pointe, we were told that the building next door would be an office building having no negative impact on our property. Our members have two main concerns: (1) the safety and well-being of our residents and (2) the impact on our real estate values. Although we are aware that the re-entry residents are monitored to some degree, proximity is an issue. We have already had several burglaries and several unsuccessful attempts. We have many residents in fragile health, having the additional worry for their safety in their own homes could be seriously detrimental. Security is also a perception. Peace of mind for our residents, and for the parents of our grandchildren and great-grandchildren who visit, will be negatively impacted regardless of any assurances presented. 1900 Rush Lake Trail • New Brighton, MN 55112 651-636-1137 • 651-636-1174 (Fax) www.applewoodpointe.com