1986-11-10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I Council Meeting Minutes November 10, 1986 Council Business, continued LeFevere stated he shared Matilla's oplnlon that the Montessori School is not a school within the meaning of the New Brighton city code, adding that most reputable quality day care centers regard themselves as providers of education. LeFevere reviewed the state's definition of a school, and stated Montessori Schools are not public institutions, open to the public for community activity and, most importantly, noted that when public schools are built, they have large areas of open space as an amenity for a neighborhood. LeFevere continued that Montessori schools are for profit and will not provide open spaces. In response to Benke's question, LeFevere stated there were no cases where this principle had been tested. Schmidt stated he truly respects counsel's position with regard to the elementary schools and continued that, although it is not a public school, the school across the street from city hall does have a curriculum for an elementary school program but it provides no amenities for the city; in fact, it uses the city's amenities. Schmidt stated the issue before the council is whether or not Harbon is a school under the city's zoning code; if it is deter- mined it is a school, then council needs to look at the site and special use permit. Harold W. Erks, President of the Harbon Montessori School, dis- tributed and reviewed a sketch of the proposed plan and then reviewed the existing facility in United Church of Christ, 1000 Long Lake Road. In response to Benke's question, Erks was unaware of another Montessori school having a similar issue of definition; Erks continued, however, that Harbon's teachers need to meet special requirements in order to have Harbon qualify for a Nonpublic Preschool Exemption certificate from the State of Minnesota's Department of Education. Benke asked for confirmation that the certificate relates to training of staff and types of education; Erks confirmed. Mr. Sergeant, Bel-Air Builders, presented and reviewed a sketch of the proposed plan for the school; and, in acknowledegment of the potential traffic problem, stated Winsor-Faricy's (architects for the project) traffic engineers designed a one-way pattern in an attempt to alleviate potential problems which shows there are ways of dealing with the problem. Sergeant continued that pro- fessional traffic engineers could be hired to determine whether or not the problem could be resolved. Page Four