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<br />ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - MAY 10, 1999 <br /> <br />4 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The proposed parking lot is shown as tennis courts on the Master Plan. Staff has determined the <br />parking lot to be similar in nature to the approved tennis courts. However, if the tennis courts are <br />to be reintroduced, either now or in the future, then this would require an amendment to the <br />Master Plan. <br /> <br />The applicant currently has a parking demand of 1,511 parking spaces and has 1,806 parking <br />spaces on site. Therefore, the site contains sufficient parking spaces to meet the minimum <br />requirements of the Special Use Permit. However, students, visitors, and staff have been having <br />difficulty finding parking during peak times, due to the location of the parking spaces. <br /> <br />In addition to adding to the parking lot, the College is taking several steps to reduce the parking <br />problem: <br /> <br />. Freshmen will not be allowed to have cars on campus. For special needs, a small number of <br />spaces will be allotted and available by appeal. <br />. Shuttle service will be expanded to allow for increased student needs. <br />. Car pooling incentives are being implemented for faculty and staff. <br />· A vehicle registration fee of $40 per semester will be implemented for all students. This <br />registration fee will be used for purposes such as increased shuttle service, lot security, and <br />the construction and maintenance of new and existing parking lots. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The applicant is proposing to add additional lighting adjacent to the parking lot. There currently <br />is lighting along the west side of the tennis courts for the trail. The applicant is proposing four, <br />400 watt high pressure sodium fixtures on two, 25 foot poles. <br /> <br />When the site plan was brought before the Planning Commission, the applicant had proposed a <br />different layout for the parking lot. The Planning Commission and staff had noted several <br />potential problem areas. The applicant has revised their plan to accommodate some of the <br />concerns with the parking lot design, handicap parking, and roadway grade. <br /> <br />The concerns expressed about the original layout were: Area 1, traffic will have to circulate to <br />the rear of the parking lot to exit. Area 2 may be difficult for vehicles exiting the stall to see cars <br />moving towards the exit. Area 3 three may be confusing due to vehicles entering from both <br />directions. Vehicles backing out of Area 4 will be going against traffic. The layout was <br />modified by moving some parking down, and removing some parking spaces at the south end of <br />the parking lot. Area 3 is still a minor issue with traffic from both sides of the parking lot <br />meeting in the middle and there is no indication of which lane has the right-of-way, however, the <br />cars will be face-to-face when converging on this area. <br /> <br />At the Planning Commission meeting, the steep grade of the entrance to the parking lot had been <br />discussed. The roadway grade approaching the parking lot has been reduced to a seven percent <br />grade from a 10 percent grade, as recommended by the City Engineer. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The proposed parking stalls are nine feet by 16 feet when the Code requires that the stalls be nine <br />feet by 18 feet. Bethel College has an existing parking lot with a similar layout just south of <br />Chalberg Residence. Staff has taken several photographs of the parking lot and would find that <br />