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Regular Planning CommissionMeeting <br />Minutes –Wednesday, January 6, 2016 <br />Page 21 <br />Mr. Weyer expressed his understanding for some of the concerns expressed by some <br />1030 <br />neighbors who would prefer he do nothing with his remaining property, but also noted he <br />1031 <br />had the right to develop his property, putting him at the mercy of the Commission’s and <br />1032 <br />City Council’s determination. Mr. Weyer stated that he couldn’t stress enough to the <br />1033 <br />Commission how hard it had been to sit in the audience and listen to the negative <br />1034 <br />neighborhood comments and their attempt to try to vote a development down yet again. <br />1035 <br />Mr. Weyer opined that he deserved the opportunity to develop his property, and further <br />1036 <br />opined that this development would not prove a high impact on people. Mr. Weyer asked <br />1037 <br />that the Commission take all things into consideration in their deliberation and ultimate <br />1038 <br />recommendation, offered his willingness to answer any of their questions, and invited <br />1039 <br />them to walk through the property and see the markings where the development <br />1040 <br />components will be to help everyone understand the proposal. Mr. Weyer opined that <br />1041 <br />this type of facility is needed, based on his personal family experience.If individual <br />1042 <br />commissioners had any serious concerns, Mr. Weyer asked that they not vote “no” <br />1043 <br />without talking things out first, especially given the number of years he’d been attempting <br />1044 <br />to develop this site and other options proven not viable. Mr. Weyerasked for the <br />1045 <br />Commission’s honest consideration, and that they not be swayed by emotions or politics, <br />1046 <br />but be open to work through any concerns to find some common ground to allow him the <br />1047 <br />ability to make things work for his family, opining that wasn’t too much to ask. <br />1048 <br />Liz Eisler, 2230 Midland Grove Road <br />1049 <br />Ms. Eisler expressed her concerns about traffic, whether the units would be single or <br />1050 <br />double-occupancy affecting traffic from visitors and family; whether additional amenities <br />1051 <br />would be available on-site (e.g. dental office, barber shop) or residents would need to be <br />1052 <br />transported for those amenities; whether food and/or medicine deliveries would be <br />1053 <br />weekly or more frequently; traffic from physical therapists and others caring for residents <br />1054 <br />beyond on-site staff;and additional traffic from busses to transport residents for outings; <br />1055 <br />and traffic from random visitors to the facility to lead social activities. <br />1056 <br />As a younger property owner at Midland Grove Condominiums, Ms. Eisler noted that she <br />1057 <br />was one of the ownerswho could leave as Mr. Ashton spoke to “community flight,” but <br />1058 <br />she stated she didn’t want to leave and appreciated her community and noted it would be <br />1059 <br />hard to leave it. However, Ms. Eisler opined that the economic value of her property <br />1060 <br />would likely decrease if this development proceeds; and further opined that young <br />1061 <br />families would be needed to replace those older members of the community being lost. <br />1062 <br />Ms. Eisler advised that Midland Grovewas updating their building to encourage younger <br />1063 <br />families, but questioned if their location would be as enticing for them with an assisted <br />1064 <br />living facility located in the immediate neighborhood. <br />1065 <br />Ms. Eisler addressed the hill off Ferris Lane onto Midland Grove Road that created some <br />1066 <br />confusion for vehicles thinking they were accessing Highway 36, but creating a huge <br />1067 <br />traffic issue for those making that mistake, going the wrong way and having to loop and <br />1068 <br />turn around. Ms. Eisler noted there were considerable issues already with traffic, and <br />1069 <br />they would only increase with additional visitors and deliveries created with this project. If <br />1070 <br />Ramsey County has an access point in place, but wasn’t willing to bring additional traffic <br />1071 <br />onto it, Ms. Eisler asked what made the option 20’ from there a better option, especially <br />1072 <br />with this road soclose to the freeway ramp, and already experiencing considerable traffic <br />1073 <br />issues. <br />1074 <br />Jim Eisler, 2230 Midland Grove Road <br />1075 <br />Using his experience in real estate, Mr. Eisler opined that this was a volunteer sport for <br />1076 <br />the property owner, and reviewed the ownership and valuation history of the property, <br />1077 <br />with the current owner acquiring the property in 2001. Mr. Eisler addressed Mr. Weyer’s <br />1078 <br />point that he also believed in property rights, but also believed in zoning and using a <br />1079 <br />property as it was intended. <br />1080 <br />Mr. Eisler admitted this was a very difficult property to develop, as evidenced by the <br />1081 <br />number of times it had come forward to this body with development proposals for the <br />1082 <br />small site. Mr. Eisler referenced some of the Planning Commission’s findings in 2009 <br />1083 <br /> <br />