2017.07.18 Planning - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 Commissioner Fynewever commented on the increase in traffic. Planning Director Gundlach provided the Commission with additional information on the proposed traffic increases and noted the City Engineer did not believe the increased traffic would be a concern for Cleveland Avenue given the fact this was a County Road. Commissioner Danger questioned if a property could be rezoned without a petition. Planning Director Gundlach stated this could be completed if the City initiated the request. She stated in this instance, the applicant initiated the request. She provided further comment on the rezoning process. Commissioner Frischman asked if Cleveland Avenue had a maximum traffic capacity. Planning Director Gundlach was uncertain of any maximums for traffic but stated she could investigate this matter further. Ramona Erickson, applicant, thanked the Commission for their consideration. She explained she and her husband started Provident Home Health Care in 2009 and have over 350 staff members. She reported her office was currently in St. Anthony, but she was running out of space. She indicated she would like to keep her business local which led her to pursue this property in New Brighton. Chairperson Nichols-Matkaiti questioned how many people would be working out of the new office space. Ms. Erickson stated there would be 20 people working out of the office space. Dawn Dorn, 257 Cleveland Avenue, stated she would prefer to keep her neighborhood zoned residential for single-family homes. She asked when the traffic information was gathered by staff. Planning Director Gundlach explained the City Engineer pulled the information from MnDOT’s website. Ms. Dorn commented on how the traffic levels were increasing along Cleveland Avenue and discussed how the proposed business would only exacerbate this situation. She provided further comment on the previous business that operated out of this residential home and explained there were no complaints because the site generated no traffic. She feared that her property value would be impacted if a business were to locate in her neighborhood. Beverly Johnson, 229 Cleveland Avenue, stated she has lived in her home since 1992. She explained she attended the neighborhood meeting and was disappointed that only five neighbors were invited to the meeting. She reported she spent six hours this past weekend informing her neighbors of the situation. She reviewed the comments she received from her neighbors and indicated she gained signatures from her neighbors for a petition to keep the proposed property zoned residential. She feared that the second story would be used for up to 150 people. She expressed concern with the fact that one-day meetings could be held at this site and explained the site simply did not have adequate parking. She encouraged Provident Home Health Care to continue their great work in the community but to find a more suitable location for their offices. Ms. Johnson presented staff with her petition. Chairperson Nichols-Matkaiti discussed the formula used for parking spaces. Planning Director Gundlach discussed the City’s minimum parking requirements and how this was determined based on building square footage. She stated the 50 parking stalls was the industry standard. Mitch Erickson, Provident Home Health Care, explained he employed 350 part-time individuals throughout the metro area and out state. He described the unique seamless 24-hour home health care services his company provided. He stated he would not be holding large scale meetings at his offices. He indicated he was proposing to have a small-scale office out of the property and stated all of his employees would be leaving the site between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on a daily basis.