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Felix Hoover Concerns/Questions from Arden Hills Resident Bethel Proposal - Planning Case 13-013 Bethel Response: This comment was meant to ensure that a safe pedestrian/bicycle system be in place prior to any students being scheduled across the 2 campuses (undergraduates are essentially the only students who might be scheduled to transit between campuses).Earlier this summer Bethel did receive separate approval to begin teaching limited daytime graduate and evening adult programs in the Pine Tree building.That traffic is in large part a “transfer” of traffic from Bethel’s current adult teaching facility on Red Fox Road in Arden Hills and thus (i) is not new traffic to Arden Hills and (ii) is not traffic that will transit between the 2 campuses. 5)How did you determine that adjoining land values would not be measurably impacted? CityResponse: Staff based this determination on the current use of the property and its similar use for educational purposes. Office uses and educational uses are very similar in terms of how the property functions as a whole. 6)Is there an option for nearby landowners to have a noise barrier placed along Snelling/MN-51...at least for those w/i 350 feet of the proposed campus? CityResponse: No plans for a noise barrier are being consideredat this time. Because Bethel is proposing to occupy an existing office building, the City expects minimal changes to noise levels beyond the current use. 7)Does a non-profit institution provide for the best use of this land in terms of the City finances and supporting our tax base? City Response: The Planning Commission makes recommendations to the City Council based on land use matters. The City is legally prohibited from making a land use decision based on taxable status. The City Council may request information on the impact of the proposal on City revenue, but they may not use this information asa basis for their land use decision. 8)Does this request from Bethel offer an opportunity for a broader discussion about options for the local community more generally, e.g., increased public transportation along Snelling/MN-51? City Response: Metro Transit makes decisionsregarding transit service. The City has requested additional transit service, howeveraccording to Metro Transit, the relatively low population density of Arden Hills cannot economically support additional transit routes or frequency. Discussions resulting in additional transit service to Arden Hills are more likely to occurwith TCAAP developmentthan with Bethel’s use of the Country Financial building.