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Council approves conditional use permit and design review for 32-unit memory-care facility at 2615 Maplewood Drive (4–1)
Summary
The Maplewood City Council approved a conditional use permit and design review for a single-story, 32-unit memory-care assisted-living facility at 2615 Maplewood Drive; both motions passed 4–1 with Councilmember Villavicencio voting nay. Staff cited reduced tree and wetland impacts compared with a prior proposal.
The Maplewood City Council voted June 9 to approve a conditional use permit and a design review resolution for a proposed single-story, 32-unit memory-care assisted-living facility on a roughly 9-acre site at County Road C and Maplewood Drive West.
Planner Ms. Parr told the council the project would be concentrated on approximately 3 buildable acres of the site, meet required setbacks (30 feet from the street, 50 feet from the north property boundary) and keep impervious surface to about 11 percent where the Coleman Lake overlay allows up to 30 percent. She noted the proposal removes 24 significant trees and adds 38 new plantings; staff flagged environmental conditions that must be verified before construction including wetland-buffer averaging that an ordinance sets at a 50-foot minimum and a 75-foot average.
Applicant Matt Frisbie of Frisbie Companies said financing for multifamily construction has become constrained and the developer is shifting the site to senior and memory-care housing, which his market study found in demand. "We're looking at wrapping things up here in August for all the financing, and, hopefully, by September 1, we're under construction," Frisbie said.
Councilmember Villavicencio questioned how many memory-care or assisted-living units exist in Maplewood; Ms. Parr said staff will verify but estimated roughly 25 units citywide based on a prior market study. Councilmembers also asked the applicant to confirm wetland averaging and setback calculations; the applicant said the team has worked with city staff and the watershed district and would finalize figures.
Councilmember Lee moved, seconded by Councilmember Juneman, to approve the conditional use permit resolution for the 32-unit memory-care facility. After a voice vote Councilmember Villavicencio recorded a nay; the motion carried. Councilmember Cave moved and Councilmember Juneman seconded approval of the design review resolution; Villavicencio again voted no and the motion carried.
Staff listed standard conditions related to environmental review and final verification of buffer averaging before the project proceeds to permit issuance. Frisbie said the developer will provide the market study to staff and expects to finalize financing this summer.
