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Mounds View Planning Commission July 7, 1999 Regular Meeting Page 14 Commissioner Berke asked if the property could be utilized for a halfway house or some other type of group home without any real changes, if the project was developed, and did not fare well. Jopke stated that this could happen if a conditional use permit amendment was approved by the City. He stated that anything that was different would have to be reconsidered by the Planning Commission and the City Council as an amendment to the Conditional Use Permit. Commissioner Berke asked if it would be difficult to disallow another permit, if this Conditional Use Permit was already approved. Jopke stated that they would have the opportunity to look at the differences in the housing and what the specific impacts might be. He stated that they could determine that different types of housing could have more impact on the community and therefore would not be appropriate. Commissioner Kaden asked if the project could be turned into apartments without having to come before the Council, if the housing project failed. Jopke stated that it could. He noted that an issue in that type of situation would be parking. He stated that the parking requirements for an apartment building would be different than those of an assisted living facility. He stated that more parking would be required to meet the Code requirements for an apartment building, but the use itself would be consistent. Milo Pinkerton, the applicant representing MSP Real Estate, stated that in light of the growing demand for senior apartments, their company was branching out, and would be building four similar facilities this year. He stated that they had no interest in group homes or apartments for the general population. He stated that they had employed a market study that determined the need for up to fifty units of housing in the Mounds View area. He stated that the housing would be assisted living, and/or Alzheimer's dementia housing, which requires twenty-four hour care, meal preparation, and medical dispensation. He stated that this facility also requires state licensure. He stated that the market was strictly for seniors, with the average age of 75 to 80 years. He stated that this was a replacement option for seniors who would otherwise go into nursing homes. He explained that the emphasis on this type of home was to provide the opportunity to be independent, with the availability of intensive service and care. Mr. Pinkerton stated that through discussion with staff they had concluded that it was best to take access to the property off of County Road I. He stated the back area of the building would be fenced in and terraced, with a trellis overlooking the baseball field that the seniors could enjoy. He noted that there would be a drop-off area and handicapped parking stalls in the front, with additional parking for staff on the side and rear of the building. Mr. Pinkerton described the building. He stated that there would be a living room with a two-story fireplace, and a dining room with a kitchen in the front of the building. He stated that a number of seniors with dementia enjoy walking in loops, and that the design of the floor plan would allow for this type of activity. He stated that the studio apartments would be located on the outside perimeter • of the building to provide sunlight and exposure. He stated that there would be a private dining area, an activity center, soda bar, separate pantry for storage, and a separate area for medical prescription dispensation. He provided a brief description of the elevations and general design of the building.