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FTE jobs and $8.4 million in economic output through the multiplier effect.” A <br />very similar dynamic exists for Minnesota and Arden Hills thanks to Bethel. We <br />estimate that approximately 55,000 guests visit our campus annually. This <br />includes everything from attending concerts, theatre productions, and sporting <br />events to major events like move-in week, commencement activities, and our <br />Festival of Christmas concerts. Local restaurants, retailers, and convenience <br />stores are the direct beneficiaries of these campus visitors. Area hotels are <br />filled with guests coming to the area for Bethel-related events and activities. <br />These are meaningful economic factors we believe should be incorporated into <br />your report. <br /> Bethel also makes its campus available for others to use. For example, several <br />area high schools and smaller colleges hold their commencement exercises at <br />Bethel. This drives significant, additional visitors to Arden Hills, including many <br />overnight guests (extended family members) who are coming to attend these <br />activities on our campus. <br /> From the Roseville (MN) Visitors Association, we received the following: <br /> “Our estimated economic impact formula we use for visitor spending is <br />$150 per person per day.” Bethel brings a large number of overnight <br />visitors to the area during fall move-in and spring commencement <br />activities in particular, and scattered throughout the year based on <br />various activities held on campus (e.g., football games, Festival of <br />Christmas concerts). <br /> “Studies have shown that tourism saves home owners an average of <br />$1,192 in property taxes.” Based on the sheer volume of public and <br />private events on our campus, Bethel is undoubtedly the single largest <br />generator of visitors/tourism to the Arden Hills community. <br /> <br />o Comments on the specific elements of your recommendation (pages 27 and 28 of your <br />report): <br />NEW INST ZONE <br /> Bethel strongly endorses the recommendation to create a new “INST” zone for <br />the City. This study, along with your broader effort to streamline zoning for <br />Arden Hills, provides a great opportunity to align zones with the realities of how <br />land use has historically evolved. As we discussed on July 31, the current zoning <br />for our 3900 Bethel Drive property does not match the characteristics of our <br />campus, which constitutes a vast majority of the B-1 zone. Changing the 3900 <br />Bethel Drive property to INST makes great sense. <br /> We also propose zoning Bethel’s 2 Pine Tree Drive property as INST. By taking <br />that forward looking action now, the following positive results are achieved: <br /> First, similar to our 3900 Bethel Drive property, it allows matching the <br />current use/dynamic of that property with the most appropriate zone.