Agenda - Planning Commission - 07/07/2011

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Regular Planning Commission 6. 3. Meeting Date: 07/07/2011 By: Tim Gladhill, Community Development Title: Public Hearing - Consider Ordinance to Amend City Code Section 117-114 Related to Assisted Living and Memory Care Facilities Background: For a number of years, the City has been approached, and Staff has been reviewing, the ability for assisted living and memory care facilities to be located in commercial areas. Currently, medical clinics are listed as a permitted use in most of these areas. However, assisted living and memory care facilities are essentially residential in nature with medical support provided, often times 24/7. In addition, standard residential zoning regulations are often difficult to apply to these uses, such as parking and dwelling unit size. Notification: The Public Hearing Notice was properly advertised in the Anoka County Union, the City's official newspaper for public notifications. Observations: It appears that assisted living and memory care facilities are desiring to be located along major transportation corridors with high visibility, which are often times areas that are zoned as commercial. Furthermore, based on discussions Staff has had with several assisted living and memory care providers, they desire to be located near other services for their staff and visitors. Densities for these facilities are most often those required for the R-3 Residential District. The minimum unit size within this district are often times in excess of the need for bedroom sizes for assisted living and memory care. Thus, it has proven difficult to apply standard residential standards to this type of use. Also, minimum parking standards for residential districts have proven an over -parking result for these types of uses. Owning a car in these types of facilities is not common, and thus, many parking spaces would go unused. Staff is desiring feedback from the Planning Commission as to any other standards related to assisted living and memory care facilities it desires to include in the B-1 District standards including, but not limited to, buffering/transitioning to residential districts, parking standards, architectural standards, etc. It is Staffs opinion that this use closely matches medical clinics and that the design standards reviewed are well suited for the B-1 General Business District. Funding Source: All costs associated with the request are the responsibility of the Application. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the ordinance Committee Action: Motion to recommend that City Council adopt the ordinance amending permitted uses in the B-1 General Business District. Attachments