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Chair Bakeman observed that this property was small to facilitate such a use. Mr. Ficek reviewed similar acreage of his other sites for this type and size of assisted living facility on those sites (Hugo, Blaine, Champlin, white Bear Lake, and Hudson, VIII); adequacy of parking and typical use by staff, visitors and others; minimal traffic in relation to this use; and his interpretation that this would provide a lower impact and be more neighborhood friendly than the current office use. Mr. Ficek estimated that 3 -5 staff members would be present at any given time. Discussion included whether a two —story building would be more acceptable to the neighbors as a trade- off for eliminating access to Alta Vista Drive; comparisons with the Sunrise Assisted Living complex on Snelling Avenue at County Road C; and concerns with over - parking on Alta Vista, creating neighborhood safety and congestion issues. Public Comment Gene Anderson, 1707 Alta Vista Drive (2nd lot north) Mr. Anderson verbally reviewed the points of concern addressed in his written e-mail previously sent to staff; his support for the assisted living facility; concerns with parking and potential for overflow parking in front of residential properties already being limited, particularly during holidays and on weekends; and supported the provision of additional parking, rather than green space, on the corner without changing the character of the neighborhood. Mr. Anderson also addressed concerns with the access forced onto Alta Vista, as now traffic from the site could access Larpenteur, since there was previously another entrance that has now been closed off. Mr. Anderson noted that proposed signage for "No Right Turn" on Dale would force traffic into the residential area, creating safety issues for vehicles, and pedestrian traffic. Mr. Anderson noted that Alta Vista is a quiet street with parking on both sides at this point; and not overly wide, creating the need for slower speeds; consideration of pedestrian and bike traffic into and through the existing parking lot; bus stop on the corner with people needing to step from the lot onto the street to the crosswalk to businesses on the St. Paul side; and negative impacts for weekend and holiday traffic provisions. Kathleen Sorteberg, 1732 N St. Albans Ms. Sorteberg sought clarification as to the number of residents to be housed in the facility; with staff advising that thirty -three (33) beds were indicated, subject to licensure by the Minnesota Department of Health. Ms. Sorteberg, noting her career in working with seniors, observed a lack of outside amenities (i.e., gardens or outdoor recreation space for residents) and the commercial appearance of the proposed building. Michael Radovich, 1820 Dale Court Mr. Radovich spoke in support of the proposed use as it appeared to be a good idea and low impact to the adjoining residential neighborhood ; however, questioned future use if this business were to fail and another permitted use be allowed (i.e., apartment building). Mr. Paschke noted that multi - family housing was a prohibited use in a B -3 Zone. Mr. Radovich expressed concern with traffic that would be generated from this use into the residential areas on those streets; noting that the current use had provided a relatively low impact to -date. Mr. Radovich observed that the traffic accessing the residential areas would not represent local or area traffic, and would be driving much faster than local traffic. Mr. Radovich spoke to the difficulties of getting onto Dale Street north at the present time without going through the residential neighborhood, and asked that restricting traffic north onto Alta Vista and opening outlets onto Larpenteur be reviewed; and any other options to mitigate traffic flow into this neighborhood. Mr. Radovich noted that he and his neighbors were concerned with trying to divert and/or alleviate weekend and evening traffic since that was when more neighborhood children were present. Mr. Radovich expressed the residential neighborhood's willingness to work with staff and the developer on resolution of the safety concerns. Nadya EI- Afandi, 1810 Alta Vista Drive Ms. EI- Afandi noted that she lived on the corner of Ata Vista Drive and Dale Court and that all of the traffic had to come by her house. She addressed her concerns with the request as proposed, and opined that her priority preference would be to completely block access from this site to Alta Vista, with an access on Larpenteur Avenue. Ms. EI- Afandi opined that, from her experience with the City has done any kind of road work and directed people out of a specific neighborhood, human nature was to deviate from that prescribed route, particularly when not local traffic. Ms. EI- Afandi noted the current stop signs, and need to accelerate to gain momentum to get up the hill on Dale Court; the number of small children in the Page 2 of 5