08-11-2016 Planning Commission Packet

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What about health and safety concerns? Will a small structure handle bitter cold temperatures in January. Heavy snow in December or February? How about the 90-degree summer days with a heat index of 100? How will homeowners supply utilities (think water, sewer and electricity) in a safe manner to the structures? Can't we do better for people with special needs than to place them in a backyard shelter? If we find room for pets in your house, how about room for granny or someone with special needs? We agree with council member Carol Lewis that there is a "gray tsunami" of aging boomers and senior citizens who will require housing and care. But a collection of small huts in the neighborhood hardly sounds like a compassionate and permanent solution to elder care housing. Other area cities need to follow St. Cloud's lead and opt out of the new state law. Otherwise, they are going to get permit requests when they don't have guidelines for these temporary structures. This matter is coming before the Sartell Planning Commission. We urge the panel to recommend an exemption to the law. Requests for exemption have to be filed by Sept. 1. Many cultures revere their elders. They make the elders the center of the family and go out of their way to show respect. As part of honoring those elders, they make sure the accommodations are safe and loving. Have we reached a point where we are treating our elders as an afterthought by placing them in a "cottage" in the backyard to fend on their own? Of course not. So granny pods aren't the answer. Perhaps the area cities can work on crafting a joint resolution to come up with a better way to create the needed transitional housing. Caregivers have a real challenge in providing help for those family members in need. Let's get creative in ways to help them.