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______________________________________________________________________________ <br />City of Arden Hills <br />Planning Commission Meeting for November 9, 2016 <br />P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2016\PC 16-028 - University of Northwestern - CUP & Zoning Code Amendment - <br />1265 Grey Fox Road\Memos_16-028 <br /> <br />Page 3 of 9 <br />2. Surrounding Area: <br />Direction Future Land Use Plan Zoning Existing Land Use <br />North Light Industrial and Office I-Flex District Light Industrial <br />South Light Industrial and Office I-Flex District Light Industrial <br />East Mixed Business B-4 – Retail Center District Light Industrial <br />West Right-of-Way Right-of-Way Right of Way (Highway 51) <br />3. Site Data: <br />Future Land Use Plan: Light Industrial and Office <br />Existing Land Use: Office <br />Zoning: I-Flex District <br />Lot Size: 14.25 acres (620,645 square feet) <br />Topography: The lot is generally flat <br /> <br /> <br />Plan Evaluation <br /> <br />1. Zoning Code Amendment <br /> <br />The property is located in the City’s I-Flex Zoning District. The proposed use of the property by <br />the University is classified as “schools, higher education” in Section 1305.04 of the Zoning <br />Code. The Zoning Code defines “schools, higher education” as, “junior colleges, colleges and <br />universities approved by the Minnesota Higher Education Coordinating Board for the Minnesota <br />Department of Education.” Currently, “schools, higher education” is not a permitted use in the I- <br />Flex District (Section 1320.05). In order to proceed with the proposal, the University has <br />requested a text amendment to Section 1320.05 to allow “schools, higher education” as a <br />Conditional Use in the I-Flex District. A Conditional Use Permit is being requested for the <br />subject property concurrently with the Zoning Code Amendment. <br /> <br />In evaluating a proposed Zoning Code amendment, the City should consider whether the change <br />would be in keeping with the public interest and be consistent with the adopted Comprehensive <br />Plan. The following questions should be considered in evaluating the proposal from the <br />University of Northwestern: <br /> <br />1. Is the proposed Zoning Code Amendment consistent with the City’s Comprehensive <br />Plan? <br />2. Are higher education school uses consistent with the purpose of the I-Flex District? <br />3. Are higher education school uses compatible with the other uses in the I-Flex District? <br /> <br />