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Planning Director Stan Boling presented staff's recommendation for approval of the special exception change of use request and granting of conceptual plan approval with the 4 conditions set out in the above staff recommendation. He wished to note for the record that two letters of objection to the special exception have been received by staff. Addressed to Senior Planner John McCoy, the letters were from owners of nearby property, Frank Varon, 7711 Hawthorne Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida, and Pauline Gorman, 365 West Pine Street, Long Beach, New York. Commissioner Scurlock understood that staff feels comfortable with the access to this property, and Director Boling advised that total ingress and egress would be off of 45th Street using the existing driveway which will be widened and improved in Phase I construction. Chairman Eggert opened the Public Hearing and asked if anyone wished to be heard in this matter. John Dean, local architect and president of the organization, introduced Harriette Gallo, owner of the property which is under contract to Visitation House based on the proper approvals, and Sister Betty Hannagan, director of the Visitation House Center. He emphasized that this will always stay residential in nature; it will always look like the house it is and it will be improved, painted, and put back into good shape. Mr. Dean wished to give a brief outline of the Center's mission and activities since there was some concern expressed by a few residents at the Planning & Zoning meeting about what kind of activities will be going on in the Center. The Center's mission is to provide a place for individuals and groups to come away for spiritual and personal renewal in an atmosphere of hospitality, peace, and acceptance. The Center is attempting to respond to the needs of God's people through programs in spirituality, personal development, reflection, dialogue, centering prayer, and spiritual direction. Ongoing programs will be held for Bible Study, Centering Prayer, Healing Life's Losses, Spiritual Direction, 12 - Step Programs, Retreats, and Celebrations. Returning to the site plan, Mr. Dean stressed that there will be no changes in Phase I except for landscaping, drainage improvements and widening and improving the existing driveway. The main concern they heard from the neighborhood was landscaping; actually, the site plan exceeds the 30 -ft. buffers required and these will be heavily landscaped. Drainage is a problem, but this plan will help the existing drainage problem rather than add to it. It will not solve it, but it will help it. Mr. Dean wished to 29 FEB 11 1992 BOOK s