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701 Xenia Avenue South | Suite 300 | Minneapolis, MN 55416 | (763) 541-4800 <br /> <br />Building a legacy – your legacy. <br />Equal Opportunity Employer | wsbeng.com <br />P:\Admin\Committees & Commissions\Committees & Commissions\Economic Development Commission (EDC)\2017\05 03 17\Higher Ed Study\WSB Memo 04272017.docx <br /> <br /> <br />Memorandum <br /> <br />To: Economic Development Commission Chair and Commissioners <br /> <br /> Matthew Bachler, Senior Planner <br /> <br />From: Eric Zweber, AICP <br /> <br />Date: April 27, 2017 <br /> <br />Re: Arden Hills Higher Education Study <br /> WSB Project No. 03455-150 <br /> <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />On October 10, 2016, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2016-008 An Interim Ordinance <br />Temporarily Prohibiting Land Use Applications and Reviews for Higher Education Uses in <br />Residential, Business, Industrial and Other Zones. The moratorium can last up to one year to <br />prepare a study to determine the impacts and benefits from higher education land uses and <br />provide recommendations for possible Zoning Code and/or Comprehensive Plan amendments <br />regarding higher education uses. <br /> <br />On February 13, 2017, the City Council approved a proposal from WSB & Associates to <br />complete the planning and economic development study. The study is comprised of seven <br />components: <br /> <br />• Background gathering and analysis of the existing Campus Master Plans for the <br />University of Northwestern and Bethel University. <br />• Analysis of the Commercial and Employment Uses currently allowed in the various <br />Commercial and Industrial Zones. <br />• Analysis of the Employment and Economic Activity that results from the allowed <br />Commercial and Employment Uses. <br />• The regulation of Higher Education Uses within other communities. <br />• Analysis of existing parcels and buildings within the Commercial and Industrial zones. <br />• Preparation of a Final Report. <br />• Zoning Code and Comprehensive Plan Amendments based on the Report’s <br />recommendations. <br /> <br />Eric Zweber, WSB Senior Planner and Arden Hills Interim City Planner, will be leading the <br />study efforts with the Economic Development Commission with assistance from Jim Gromberg, <br />Economic Development Specialist. At their meeting on May 3, 2017, the Economic <br />Development Commission will be reviewing the two economic development subjects of the <br />study: Analysis of the Commercial and Employment Uses currently allowed in the various