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City Council – Arden Hills <br />August 17, 2017 <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />K:\03455-150\Admin\Meeting\08212017\WSB HE Study Memo 08162017.docx <br />component was added to evaluate the impact to the general fund of the City of Arden Hills if the <br />non-profit universities acquired properties that are currently occupied by property tax paying <br />businesses. These components have been added as separate sections within the report and have <br />been summarized in the executive summary. <br /> <br />The previous versions of the report included potential outcomes in the executive summary and did <br />not include formal recommendations. The report attached to this memorandum includes a <br />summary of the recommendations in the executive summary and the full recommendations near <br />the end of the report. These recommendations have been proposed as Zoning Code amendments <br />that are included as Attachment B as a redline of the existing code. Any changes recommended <br />by the City Council will need to be changed in both the report and the code amendments. <br /> <br />Any amendments to the regulation of higher education uses will need to be ultimately approved <br />by the City Council by October 9, 2017 before the moratorium expires. The economic <br />development issues will continue to be discussed as the City develops the Comprehensive Plan <br />update, which is expected to be approved in the first quarter of 2018. <br /> <br />Definitions <br /> <br />The existing definition for higher education schools in the City Code is: <br /> <br />“Schools, higher education. Junior colleges, colleges and universities approved by the Minnesota <br />Higher Education Coordinating Board for the Minnesota Department of Education.” <br /> <br />The “Higher education, campus” definition would describe the uses expected from a traditional <br />four-year, undergraduate institution. The staff suggested definition is: <br /> <br />“Higher education, campus. The facilities for technical colleges, junior colleges, colleges and <br />universities approved by the Minnesota Higher Education Coordinating Board for the Minnesota <br />Department of Education. These facilities can include, but are not limited to, classrooms; <br />laboratories; seminaries; dining and residence halls; athletic, wellness, and spiritual facilities; <br />administrative offices; performance art centers; parking and transit structures; and child care <br />facilities.” <br /> <br />The “Higher education, classroom/office” use is intended for classroom space that is becoming <br />more common for off-campus continuing or graduate level education and other higher education <br />uses that function similarly to a traditional office use. The staff suggested definition is: <br /> <br />“Higher education, classroom/office. The facilities of technical colleges, junior colleges, colleges <br />and universities approved by the Minnesota Higher Education Coordinating Board for the <br />Minnesota Department of Education that function in a similar way to traditional business office <br />uses. These facilities are limited to classrooms, administrative offices, or similar uses.” <br /> <br />Higher Education, Classroom/Office Use <br /> <br />The purpose of the separate Higher Education, Classroom/Office use is to allow for higher <br />education uses that function similar to traditional office uses or have similar impacts or benefits as <br />traditional office uses. The method to ensure that the higher education uses do not create impacts