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_________________________________________________________________________________________ City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for September 6, 2017 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2017\PC 17-020 - Zoning Code Amendment - Higher Education Land Uses\Memos_Reports_17-020 Page 6 of 13 Meeting with Bethel University and the University of Northwestern On July 31, Arden Hills and WSB staff met with the Presidents and other staff from both Bethel University and the University of Northwestern to review the draft report and the proposed schedule to approve the amendments to the Zoning Code. The universities raised concerns regarding the Higher Education, Classroom/Office definition and conditional use permit conditions to allow for labs and the 25% limitation. Staff explained that the intention is to allow for labs that are like a medical clinic lab that does not require any special HVAC equipment or generate any hazardous wastes, but that hard science labs that would have vent hoods, waste chemicals, and/or outdoor storage tanks would be prohibited. Staff also explained that the City Council had directed a limitation on how much higher education uses could occupy the B-2 zoning district, but that it was staff that proposed the 25% limitation. The universities were provided the opportunity to provide written comments regarding the Commercial, Industrial, and Higher Education study and the recommended Zoning Ordinance amendments. Their letters are attached to this memorandum and summarized below. Bethel University Comment Letter The President and Senior Vice President of Bethel University have provided a comment letter (Attachment C) regarding the Commercial, Industrial, and Higher Education Study report and proposed Zoning Code amendments. The Bethel University have been summarized as follows: 1. Add “or entirely online” to the attendance type for the additional students that Bethel is trying to attract. 2. Provided updated Fall 2016 student types data. 3. Clarify that Bethel expects that 50% of 4,000 additional students will take their classes entirely online. 4. Request that information be added about how Bethel is a good neighbor including providing recreational opportunities to Arden Hills residents without any cost to the City of Arden Hills. 5. Request that the amount of capital construction costs, employment, and total expenditures provided by Bethel be added to the report. 6. Request that the number and economic impact of visitors of Bethel be added to the report. 7. Supports the creation of the INST – Institutional zoning district. 8. Proposes that the City rezone the Anderson Center property (2 Pine Tree Dr) to the new INST – Institutional zoning district. 9. Prefer no limitation on how much of the B-2 district can be occupied by higher education uses, but that if there is a cap, that the cap is based on the total land area of B-2, not total building area. 10. Expressed a concern about the limitation on HVAC equipment for in the B-2 CUP criteria. Bethel has proposed language that this limitation is not intended to limit biology or medical lab classrooms.