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RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE PLANNING COMMISSION’S DECISION TO APPROVE A PLANNING REVIEW FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF A PARKING DECK TO INCLUDE AN AMBULANCE GARAGE AND RELOCATED HELIPAD BY ST. LUKE’S HOSPITAL AT 1012 EAST SECOND STREET.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the city council finds as follows:
(a) On December 4, 2018, St. Luke’s Hospital (the “Applicant”) submitted an application
(Planning Commission File No. “PL 18-158”) for a Mixed Use-Institutional (MU-I) planning review of the following projects on the St. Luke’s Campus:
a. Relocation of the Emergency Department to Building A,
b. Replacement of the existing parking deck east of Building A,
c. Development of a new structure containing an ambulance garage and Emergency Department drop-off/parking accessed from E. 2nd St,
d. Creation of a heliport on the roof of the new ambulance garage/parking structure,
e. Installation of pavement, storm water treatment, perimeter landscaping, and improved lighting in the parking lot on the north side of E. 2nd St across from Building A; and
(b) The planning commission, at its January 8, 2019, regular meeting, considered the application and report prepared by staff, a copy of which is attached hereto as Attachment A, including noise impacts, and determined that the application generally met the purpose and requirements of the MU-I zone district, subject to conditions 1 through 7 as set forth in its Action Letter dated January 25, 2019, a copy of which is attached hereto as Attachment B, and approved Applicant’s application, subject to said conditions; and
(c) On January 18, 2019, the city received an appeal from Penelope Gooch, a copy of which is attached hereto as Attachment C, requesting the city council reverse the planning commission’s decision to approve the planning review; and
(d) The city council heard the appeal at its February 25, 2019 meeting.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the city council finds that approval of the application would not violate Chapter 50 of the Duluth City Code, 1959, as amended or the Principals and Policies contained in the city’s Comprehensive Plan:
(a) In that the infrequency of use and the means of mitigation included in the approval will not result in helicopter operations having a material adverse effect on the use of sidewalks and public rights of way adjacent to the property; and
(b) Such use will not constitute an incompatible use with the surrounding neighborhood.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the decision of the planning commission to approve the planning review is hereby affirmed.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The resolution affirms the planning commission’s decision to approve the Planning Review for St. Luke’s Hospital’s proposed projects including: 1) relocation of the Emergency Department to Building A at 1012 E. Second St.; 2) replacement of an existing parking deck adjacent to Building A with an ambulance garage and parking structure that includes a heliport on the roof; and 3) pavement, landscaping, storm water, and lighting improvements to a gravel parking lot on the north side of E. Second St.
The purpose statement for the MU-I District states that it “is established to provide for the unique development needs and impacts of major medical, educational and research institutional development. The intent is to give institutional landowners the flexibility to plan and develop their facilities while ensuring that surrounding neighbor- hoods are protected from adverse impacts, such as traffic, overshadowing buildings, noise and unexpected expansion of institutional uses into residential areas.”
The planning commission’s action letter (Attachment B) and staff report (Attachment A) provide findings the planning commission made concerning the compliance of the applicant’s proposed project with zoning requirements for connectivity, parking, loading, landscaping, screening, and exterior lighting. The staff report also contains maps of the area, plans for the replacement structure and improved parking lot, a narrative provided by the applicant describing the operation of the proposed facility, and a Noise Screening Analysis prepared by St. Luke’s Hospital.
Penelope Gooch, a resident who lives a half a block away from the St. Luke’s campus, has appealed this determination for the reasons listed in Attachment C.
City Council Appeal Received: January 18, 2019
Complete Application Received: December 4, 2018
Action Deadline for Application: April 3, 2019