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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – January 6, 2021 8 <br /> <br />Commissioner Subramanian questioned how the current pandemic impacted the design of this <br />building. <br /> <br />Florent __________ discussed how operations had adjusted to combat and address the COVID- <br />19 concerns. He thanked all of the healthcare workers for working through the pandemic. He <br />commented further on how the physical plant of the building had changed in order to provide <br />proper screens, spacing and barriers to protect loved ones. He noted the HVAC units also had <br />HEPA filters installed for improved air quality. <br /> <br />Commissioner Jones stated he was very familiar with HVAC units within senior living <br />facilities. He explained he was very pleased with these plans after reviewing them in detail. He <br />appreciated the pod system within the memory care wing for security purposes. He indicated <br />memory care units are not supposed to have kitchenettes for safety purposes. He stated he fully <br />supported the proposed high quality development. <br /> <br />Commissioner Jefferys asked if memory care units required licensure from the State and had to <br />be a minimum size. <br /> <br />Mr. _____________ explained he would be receiving an assisted living license. <br /> <br />Gary Fisher, architect for the project, explained the State had building code minimums. He <br />reported the proposed project met building code requirements. <br /> <br />Commissioner Jefferys stated it did not make sense to exclude the memory care units from the <br />calculation of the development. she encouraged staff to find a better way to calculate the unit <br />size for memory care units. <br /> <br />Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla indicated he has seen memory care <br />units count as a .33 unit. He explained he had calculated the memory care units as a .5 unit. He <br />commented further on how units were calculated within nursing homes. He described how the <br />Met Council classified memory care and assisted living units. <br /> <br />Todd ___________ reported assisted living developments were licensed within every state and <br />certain criteria had to be met. <br /> <br />Commissioner Jefferys questioned how residents would pay for their units and asked what the <br />price point would be for these units. <br /> <br />Todd ___________ stated residents would pay for their units on a monthly basis. He reiterated <br />that his business was for profit and described how he works with tenants to keep rent covered <br />through Medicaid. He explained he could provide the Commission with a range of rents for the <br />units. He noted all residents do have to prove they can pay rent for two years prior to receiving a <br />unit. <br /> <br />Chair Gehrig commented on the parking variance and requested further information on the <br />parking requested. <br /> <br />Todd ____________ explained the 95 parking stalls being requested would be sufficient. He <br />stated the only time additional parking may be needed was for holidays.