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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,June 3, 2019 <br /> Page 9 <br /> the comment about parking and the accessibility does not take into account the <br /> people that are there because those people cannot afford a market rate apartment. <br /> She stated her lifelong friends' father was in a CommonBond community for six- <br /> teen years. She stated her friends' father, a successful businessman and salesman <br /> for thirty years and a veteran had to retire early due to a medical condition. At fif- <br /> ty-six he was living in a sub-par market rate apartment in Brooklyn Park that <br /> charged top dollar but no support. He was robbed, had his mail stolen, and she <br /> was perpetually concerned about his health and welfare. She learned of Com- <br /> monBond in 2002 and after a yearlong wait, he was able to get into a building in <br /> Fridley. One year later, after moving in, his health got better, and he was able to <br /> volunteer in the community and developed a wonderful social network. She stat- <br /> ed her friend is a professional occupational therapist and is a professor at the Uni- <br /> versity of Minnesota and she felt that the care provided there was better than any <br /> he had received at any facility she has ever stepped foot in. She noted the follow- <br /> ing comment is from her friend. "Every CommonBond building is well main- <br /> tained, looks attractive on the outside and the staff truly delivers on what is adver- <br /> tised in terms of support. Roseville needs this type of housing to allow lifelong <br /> residents of Roseville who cannot afford the luxury senior rentals to stay in their <br /> beloved community. Do not let those who will not allow this in their backyard, <br /> and the narrative there to sway you in the stellar organization and their ability to <br /> serve Roseville for years to come." <br /> Ms. Strahan stated the cost of land is Roseville is only going to increase and, at <br /> this point, people have an opportunity to make a say when the land use is chang- <br /> ing but what happens when someone comes forward and wants to use it as it is <br /> and do not need to apply for rezoning of that space. If it was a neighborhood <br /> business, that allows use from her understanding to put other multi-family dwell- <br /> ings, a private lodge, a daycare, a bank, an animal boarding facility or personal <br /> services and all of the people that the residents do not have control over what and <br /> who comes and goes from that facility. She stated she knows someone who lives <br /> adjacent to Sienna Green in a home that the person owns and have seen no change <br /> in the value of their home and have actually seen improvement in the number of <br /> police calls and the pride in ownership of those who go in and out of that build- <br /> ing. She stated the City needs to follow through on its goal to have affordable <br /> housing in the City. The cost of land being so expensive, this unused plot that is <br /> not used for eleven months each year will eventually change hands. The City <br /> cannot continue to leave this space and there is an opportunity to allow the Rose- <br /> ville residents who cannot afford the luxury facilities going up on every corner, <br /> who don't have 2.5 cars per person but who need a hand up in order to stay and <br /> age in Roseville who might not otherwise be able to. <br /> Ms. Bonnie Koch, 1996 Langton Lake Drive <br /> Ms. Koch stated she was at the meeting speaking as a member of the League of <br /> Women Voters of Roseville Area. She was in support of the CommonBond pro- <br /> posal for affordable housing development for seniors. The League did an in- <br />