2A, Concept Review 1300 Grey Fox Road - Salvation Army Proposal

Home Browse Search

• The property is "buffered" by a significant tree line along Snelling Avenue on the west, railroad to the south and light industrial and office use to the north and east. This locational setting provides a unique and suitable set of elements that would be conducive to the use operation and avoid disruption to residential neighborhoods; • The property is located within 4/10 of a mile from the Lexington Avenue shopping district and transit. The close proximity to commercial services and transit access provides convenience and appropriate proximity for this live-work use. The Salvation Army and its real estate consultants have assessed the current zoning district (I- Flex) and the considerations that would be involved in permitting the use under the current City of Arden Hills code. The unique nature of the live-work operation of The Salvation Army ARC will require modification and a specific zoning permit. Therefore, the potential path to the necessary set of zoning actions that could be considered if the City of Arden Hills is interested in supporting the use would include,but not be limited to, the following: • Allowing a "residential facility" vs. a "residential use" in the I-Flex District. The distinction with The Salvation Army ARC and its unique program is that its beneficiary residents participate voluntarily and relatively short term (6-8 months). Therefore, while the residential facility component is an element of the program, it is accessory to the principal function of the property, yet integral in that in order to reside at the facility, one must work within or as part of the ARC facility operation during residency; • Placing durational and operational restrictions on the use through the Interim Use Permit (IUP) procedure. The Interim Use Permit would provide a mechanism to specify and set conditions specific to The Salvation Army as the IUP permittee. For example, hours of operation, limitation on the number of residents, physical use conditions and permit termination conditions would be specified. Because The Salvation Army is a self funded organization that would own and operate the property long term, such conditions and restrictions under an IUP and development agreement would be manageable. In addition, other title restrictions could be considered as an IUP condition that would not allow expansion of the use or operation of the use by any other organization other than The Salvation Army or its affiliated business units; • Site landscape and streetscape and architectural treatments would be considered by The Salvation Army that would considerably enhance the site and adjacent right of way in comparison to what may typically be delivered by another industrial use in this zone. Economic Impact The Salvation Army will make a substantial investment of over$14,000,000 into its ARC facility project. The Salvation Army will employ 50-60 full time professional, administrative and support staff at this location. The Salvation Army stores employ another 200+ full time, part time and seasonal staff at its nine Twin Cities locations, with a combined annual payroll of nearly $4 million. In addition, The Salvation Army will continue to provide a nationally recognized and mission critical social and work force development service in the Twin Cities