1A, 1201 County Road E Concept PUD Discussion

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purchased the building and intended to lease it, in its entirety, to Northwestern College. The IUP expired on May 30, 2011. Prior to the expiration of the IUP,the City approved a request by TAT Properties to allow the student housing on a permanent basis provided that Northwestern College remained the sole tenant of the building. Citing a drop in expected attendance and financing, Northwestern College withdrew their interest in the property shortly after that approval. Northwestern College has since vacated the building. At the time of the IUP approval, the City was just beginning the process of developing the Guiding Plan for the B-2 District, which was ultimately accepted by the Council in October 2008. The City's zoning regulations were consequently amended to incorporate the goals of the Guiding Plan for the B-2 District, including design standards for new construction. After Northwestern College withdrew, the City reviewed and approved a subsequent proposal from Select Senior Living to convert the building into assisted senior housing. Select Senior Living has since ended their negotiations with the property owner to purchase the property for this use. Over the past year Staff has been working with the applicant on a residential reuse of the property. The City completed new multi-family zoning regulations, which were approved on September 24, 2012. Proiect Proposal The applicants have submitted a letter describing their proposed use, as well as sketches illustrating possible site alterations and exterior building modifications (Attachment A). In sum, the applicants are proposing to convert the existing building into 75 apartment units, ranging in size from efficiency units up to 3-4 bedroom units. Included in the apartment complex would be main floor common areas including a fitness area, lounge, theater room, gaming room, and indoor bicycle storage. The former McGuire's restaurant space and banquet facilities would be converted to retail bays fronting on County Road E. The applicant is not seeking a subdivision of the property at this time. As part of the conversion, the applicant is proposing to reconstruct the parking lot, add stormwater ponding and green space, reconstruct the front driveway to add additional parking near the new retail, and construct sidewalks along the property frontage on County Road E. The middle access drive would be removed as part of this work. The front fagade of the building would also be redone to accommodate the new retail bays. The applicant has submitted a site plan and fagade elevations depicting the proposed changes (Attachment A). City of Arden Hills City Council Meeting for October 29, 2012 P:WlanningWlanning CasesU012V2-018-1201 County Road E-Concept PUD Review110-29-12-1201 County Road E Concept-Memo.doc Page 2 of 5