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Mounds View Planning Commission August 1, 2012 <br />Regular Meeting Page 3 <br />________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />6. Other Planning Activity <br /> <br />A. Discuss Acceptability of “Hospice” Uses in the Zoning Code <br /> <br />Planning Associate Heller informed the Commission that City s taff recently met with <br />representatives of a non-profit that was looking for a site in the north metro area to build a <br />children’s respite care and hospice facility. She explained there are currently no children’s <br />hospice facilities in Minnesota, and only three of them in the nation. Staff reviewed the zoning <br />code and the code does not specifically address hospice facilities, but does address nursing <br />homes as a conditional use in the R-4, High Density Residential zoning district. It was noted the <br />use may be less intense than a nursing home since it would likely have less residents. Her only <br />concern with the zoning requirements was with the parking requirements for the proposed use <br />versus a nursing home. Associate Heller requested the Commission discuss how a hospice use <br />could be incorporated into the City’s zoning code. <br /> <br />Commissioner Miller questioned the age of children that would be serviced in the proposed <br />facility. <br /> <br />Associate Heller indicated the hospice facility would be for children from birth through 18. <br /> <br />Chair Stevenson was in favor of considering the hospice use within the nursing home section of <br />the zoning code, as this was a conditional use and he felt hospice could be aligned with this same <br />use. <br /> <br />Commissioner Cramblit agreed. <br /> <br />Commissioner Miller commented she was surprised there was a need for children’s hospice. <br /> <br />Associate Heller explained that most or all of the costs for respite and hospice care are not <br />reimbursed by health insurance providers or the State, and that was one of the main reasons for <br />the lack of these facilities in the United States. <br /> <br />Commissioner Smith indicated it would be great for Mounds View to be the first City in the <br />State of Minnesota to provide this service for families. The Commission agreed. <br /> <br />Associate Heller anticipated that the building would be designed to look more residential with a <br />great deal of green space. She explained the developers were interested in the great access <br />Mounds View has to freeways in the metro area. <br /> <br />Commissioner Meehlhause asked if TIF funds could be used to assist with acquiring a site for <br />this use. <br /> <br />Associate Heller did not anticipate the funds could be used for land acquisition, but could <br />possibly be used for demolition and site preparation expenses. <br />______________________________________________________________________________