03-14-1972 A special meeting of the Hopkins Zoning and Planning Commission was held on
Tuesday, March 14, 1972 in the Council Chambers of the City Hall.
Present were Chairman Lohmann, members Knickerbocker, Malerich, Shirley and
,r Sidla. Also present were Zoning Administrator Blomquist, City Engineer Strojan,
Building Inspector Kohnen and City Planner Hawks.
Item: The Commission asked planner Hawks to review the CUE reports and the
Minneapolis Design District Law and make a report at the March 28th
meeting.
Item: Response of Don Hagen to request to paint ends of 11 story building.
Chairman Lohmann ordered this subject continued to March 28, 1972.
Item: Proposed ordinance on apartment security continued to March 28, 1972.
Item: Proposed ordinance changes from Vic Rotering.
The commission asked Planner Hawks to give the commission members a
written recommendation concerning the proposed zoning ordinance
recommendations from Vic Rotering.
Item: Appearance by Mr. Hellman regarding the nursing home at Monk and Excelsior
Avenues.
Mr. Hellman clarified the question of the use proposed by stating that
the general concept of the facility is total care.
,� Andrew S. Fraser, 120 Ashley Road, questioned the type of development
that would be built on the corner property at Monk and Excelsior.
Mr. Hellman pointed out that the property is now zoned R-4 and that the
council controls any zoning change.
Dr. Malerich questioned the desirability of building a six story structure
instead of a three story. Mr. Gene Reilly explained the economics of
high rise buildings versus low rise when the value of land reaches the
heights that prevail in the Hopkins area. Mr. Hellman related the
advantages inherent in highrise buildings as it related to giving much
better service to patients due to resulting short distances of travel
for staff.
Chairman Lohmann asked the Hellman staff why the project had been
designed on the basis of R-5 zoning during the time that the area was
zoned either I-1 or R-4, why approval of plans based on R-5 zoning was
sought and received from state agencies such as the Minnesota Department
of Health, before any request for relief was made of the Zoning and
Planning Commission, Gene Reilly answered that they had apparently 'goofed' .
Mr. Fraser stated he felt that a six story structure would create
economic damage to the properties in Interlachen Park.
Henry L. Griffith asked Mr. Hawks what effect the nursing home development
would have on the traffic situation in the area. Mr. Hawks cited two
,.,� developments in St. Louis Park that he felt would generate enough new
traffic in the area to make the nursing home insignificant. He cited the
construction of Louisiana Avenue, a major thorofare, connecting Excelsior
Avenue and Highway No. 7 and the construction of a major K-Mart store
just east of Coast-To-Coast on Excelsior Avenue, with the only access
from Excelsior Avenue.
Lee Labore, 121 Ashley Road suggested controlling traffic access to
Interlachen Park either through use of a median on Excelsior Avenue or
closing Ashley south of Excelsior Avenue.
Dorothy E. Thies, 10 Ashley Road stated that she objected to lights in the
parking lot of the nursing home as they would shine into her bedroom
windows and interfere with sleep, as the lights at the Tom Thumb Superette
108 Monk Avenue North do at the present time.
Item: Status report on official map. Dr. Malerich moved and Mr. Sidla seconded
a motion to continue to March 28, 1972 and requested they be furnished
enlarged maps prior to the meeting. Motion carried.
Action: Mr. Knickerbocker moved and Mr. Shirley seconded a motion that the
meeting be adjourned. Motion carried.
^ MEMBERS:
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�'aul Lohmann, Chairman