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_____________________________________________________________________________________________ City of Arden Hills City Council Meeting for March 20, 2017 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2017\PC 17-006 - Higher Education Study\CC Packet_03202017_17-006\Memo.docx Page 2 of 11 Eric Zweber, WSB Senior Planner and Arden Hills Interim City Planner, will be leading the study efforts with the Planning Commission with assistance from Hannah Rybak, WSB Planner and Arden Hills Interim Planner. The Economic Development Commission will also provide assistance on the study. On March 8, 2017, the Planning Commission reviewed the first two subjects of the study: background of the existing Campus Master Plans for the Bethel University and University of Northwestern; and the analysis of the Commercial and Employment Uses currently allowed in the various Commercial and Industrial Zones. Bethel University and University of Northwestern Campus Master Plans Arden Hills has approved a Campus Master Plan (CMP) for Bethel University in 2012 (Attachment B) and a CMP for the University of Northwestern in 2007 (Attachment C). Both CMPs show opportunities for additional buildings and classrooms on the respective campuses, but both universities have requested the development of higher educational facilities off of their campuses. Bethel has classrooms and administrative offices at the Anderson Center located at 2 Pine Tree Drive, formerly occupied by Country Financial. In October 2016, Northwestern submitted an application to convert the former Smiths Medical buildings at Grey Fox Road and Snelling Avenue into a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) facility. The Planning Commission and the City Council have both questioned why the colleges are looking for facilities off of their campuses when their CMPs show that they can build facilities on campus. To help answer that question, Arden Hills staff has interviewed the President of Northwestern and the President and other staff from Bethel. A summary of their responses are described below. Priorities To understand the universities’ future plans, staff asked for each board’s top priorities. TOP PROIRTIES BETHEL UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN Raise $150,000,000 Fulfill Their Mission Increase Use of the Anderson Center by Adding Health Care Programs Enrollment Growth to 7,000 Students Build the Endowment Add Programs Grow College of Adult and Professional Studies to 4,000 Students Additional Resources and Money The priorities for both universities include growing enrollment which will require additional facilities. To build additional facilities, they both will need to raise significant resources and funds. Bethel stated that they can accommodate their growth expectations through new buildings on their campus and the expansion of the Anderson Center. However, they did state that they