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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – MARCH 26, 2018 8 City Planner Bachler reported the grade slopes down gradually from the proposed addition to the lake. City Attorney Jamnik recommended the Council add a condition for approval stating Bethel University would be expected to buffer or provide landscape treatments within the Site Plan. MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Mayor Grant seconded a motion to approve Planning Case 18-003 for a Conditional Use Permit Amendment and Variance at 3900 Bethel Drive, based on the findings of fact and the submitted plans, as amended by the seven (7) conditions in the March 26, 2018, Report to the City Council. Councilmember Holmes stated she was troubled by the proposed request and explained she was not convinced a variance was necessary in order for the addition to be successful. She feared how the college could be impacted by encroaching into the 150-foot setback. City Planner Bachler reported alternative building designs were considered by the applicant. He explained the proposed plans best met the needs of the University. He indicated the natural environmental lake designation was set by the DNR to control development around the lake. He noted this was in a unique situation as the only property owner surrounding the lake was Bethel University. Councilmember Holden asked if staff knew the width of the building. City Planner Bachler stated he did not have this information. Councilmember McClung questioned what the practical difficulties were with this request. He indicated he was leery to approve this request when an addition could be placed onto the existing building without encroaching on the setback. He believed that maintaining the current angle of the building through the addition was not a practical difficulty. Mayor Grant requested staff provide the Council with an aerial view of the lake with the proposed addition. City Planner Bachler reviewed an aerial photograph of Valentine Lake noting the location of the proposed addition for the Council. Mayor Grant commented only a sliver of the building, approximately 13 feet, would be encroaching into the setback and not the entire addition. He indicated the DNR has reviewed the request and did not object to the proposed encroachment. Councilmember Holden requested the applicant provide the Council with further information on the proposed building design. Mark Posner, Facilities Director at Bethel University, thanked the Council for their time and consideration. He explained Bethel has spent the past three years working on its sciences concerns. He commented on the conversations that had been held and noted Bethel was