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Approved: CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA PLANNING COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2018 6:30 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL PLANNING CASES C. Planning Case 18-003; Bethel University – 3900 Bethel Drive – Conditional Use Permit Amendment and Variance – Public Hearing City Planner Bachler stated Bethel University is proposing to construct two additions to existing buildings on their main campus at 3900 Bethel Drive. The first addition would be approximately 80 square feet in area and located on the north side of the Brushaber Commons building. The purpose of this addition is to support research on birds conducted by students and faculty. The aviary support facility is expected to be constructed in summer 2018. City Planner Bachler reported the second proposed addition is a component of a larger renovation Bethel University is evaluating for the Academic Commons building. The proposed plan would include 45,000 gross square feet of renovations within the existing Academic Commons building and a new 20,000 gross square foot addition on the northwest corner of the building on an existing small parking lot. The addition would match the height of the existing three-story Academic Commons building. The proposed renovations and addition are needed to support science academic programs on the campus. City Planner Bachler explained the design for the sciences renovations and addition is still in the early schematic phase. Bethel University anticipates the project will be built in four phases. The first three phases would include interior renovations to the existing building and would take place between summer 2019 and summer 2021. The current schedule is to construct the proposed addition in summer 2022. Bethel University has requested a CUP Amendment at this time in order to update their Campus Master Plan to include the 20,000-gross square foot addition to the Academic Commons building. The university would be required to submit a separate Site Plan Review application with the City for the addition before construction. Based on the tentative schedule, the Site Plan Review application would likely be submitted in 2021 in anticipation of construction in 2022. City Planner Bachler commented a Variance is being requested to allow the Academic Commons addition to encroach into the required setback from Valentine Lake. The required structure setback from the ordinary high-water level is 150 feet. The proposed addition would be setback 118 feet from the lakeshore for an encroachment of 32 feet.