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_________________________________________________________________________________________ <br />City of Arden Hills <br />Planning Commission Meeting for August 9, 2017 <br />P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2017\PC 17-006 - Higher Education Study\Memos_Reports_17-006\PC Memo (08-09- <br />17)_17-006 V2.docx <br /> <br />Page 2 of 7 <br />The Planning Commission, Economic Development Commission, and City Council have over <br />the last few months reviewed the technical analysis of the five components and, based on the <br />discussions, some potential outcomes. Based on discussion at these meetings, two additional <br />components have been added to the study report: <br />• College and University Enrollment by Community <br />• Property Taxes Paid by Commercial and Industrial Properties <br /> <br />The college and university enrollment component was added to determine if Arden Hills has a <br />greater proportion of students to residents than other Minnesota communities. The property tax <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 <br />did not include formal recommendations. The report attached to this memorandum includes <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 Planning Commission will need to be changed in both the report and the code <br />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 <br />Minnesota 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.”