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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION <br />AND JOINT WORK SESSION WITH JDA – AUGUST 15, 2016 9 <br /> <br />Senior Planner Bachler explained the City Council could choose to allow this use as either a <br />permitted or conditional use. By requiring a conditional use permit for higher education uses, the <br />City would have an opportunity to evaluate traffic patterns, parking, and other potential negative <br />impacts of the use, and to place reasonable conditions on the approval to mitigate the impacts. <br />Additionally, the City would be able to limit the use to activities that are compatible with the rest <br />of the zoning district and restrict those uses that are not compatible, such as residential <br />dormitories. <br /> <br />Staff is requesting that the City Council provide further direction on this subject by responding to <br />the following questions: <br /> <br />1. Does the City Council support allowing higher education uses in any of the City’s industrial <br />zoning districts? If so, which ones? <br /> <br />2. Would the City Council like to see higher education uses classified as a permitted use or a <br />conditional use? <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden believed businesses should be located in industrial districts. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung agreed. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes did not believe that higher education was a compatible use within the <br />industrial zoning district. It was allowed in the B-4 district awhile back and the City received <br />numerous complaints due to issues of incompatibility with other uses. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant explained higher education was a non-intended use in this district. He <br />recommended staff and the Council consider the proper function and scope for industrial <br />properties. He then asked why this issue came about. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Bachler stated based on preliminary discussions, a local university was interested <br />in purchasing the Smiths Medical property in order to create additional classrooms and other <br />facilities. <br /> <br />Councilmember Wicklund asked if the City has allowed a University or higher education use to <br />operate in the I-Flex district in the past. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant reported there was a building owned by the Davidson Company in the B-4 district <br />that Bethel University wanted to use for night classes that was approximately 4,000 square feet. <br />This building was used for some time, but eventually these facilities were relocated. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Bachler clarified that the Smiths Medical property was located in the City’s I- <br />Flex zoning district. <br /> <br />Councilmember Wicklund questioned if Smiths Medical was a fairly desirable property. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden believed this to be true.