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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – March 7, 2018 5 <br /> <br />plan would include 45,000 gross square feet of renovations within the existing Academic <br />Commons building and a new 20,000 gross square foot addition on the northwest corner of the <br />building on an existing small parking lot. The addition would match the height of the existing <br />three-story Academic Commons building. The proposed renovations and addition are needed to <br />support science academic programs on the campus. <br /> <br />City Planner Bachler explained the design for the sciences renovations and addition is still in <br />the early schematic phase. Bethel University anticipates the project will be built in four phases. <br />The first three phases would include interior renovations to the existing building and would take <br />place between summer 2019 and summer 2021. The current schedule is to construct the proposed <br />addition in summer 2022. Bethel University has requested a CUP Amendment at this time in <br />order to update their Campus Master Plan to include the 20,000-gross square foot addition to the <br />Academic Commons building. The university would be required to submit a separate Site Plan <br />Review application with the City for the addition before construction. Based on the tentative <br />schedule, the Site Plan Review application would likely be submitted in 2021 in anticipation of <br />construction in 2022. <br /> <br />City Planner Bachler commented a Variance is being requested to allow the Academic <br />Commons addition to encroach into the required setback from Valentine Lake. The required <br />structure setback from the ordinary high-water level is 150 feet. The proposed addition would be <br />setback 118 feet from the lakeshore for an encroachment of 32 feet. <br /> <br />City Planner Bachler stated Bethel University operates under a CUP Master Plan. As the <br />university comes forward with plans, they are reviewed against the Master Plan for consistency. <br />Building plans that are consistent with the Master Plan require a Site Plan Review. A CUP <br />Amendment is required when plans are not included in the approved Master Plan. The two <br />proposed additions are not included on the Master Plan and a CUP Amendment is therefore <br />required. <br /> <br />Site Data <br />Land Use Plan: Public and Institutional <br />Existing Land Use: Public and Institutional <br />Zoning: INST – Institutional District <br />Current Lot Sizes: 191.32 Acres (Including main campus, athletic complex, and <br />part of Lake Valentine) <br />Topography: Varied topography across campus <br /> <br />City Planner Bachler reviewed the surrounding area, the Plan Evaluation, the Conditional Use <br />Permit Criteria and the Variance Evaluation Criteria. <br /> <br />City Planner Bachler provided the Findings of Fact for review: <br /> <br />General Findings: <br />1. The Bethel University main campus at 3900 Bethel Drive is located in the Institutional <br />Zoning District. <br />2. A Higher Education, College Campus is a Conditional Use in the Institutional District. <br />3. Bethel University operates under a Conditional Use Permit Master Plan.