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<br />Minutes of Regular Council Meeting <br />Page th rea <br /> <br />September 13, 1976 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Therefore, Crichton said, as he reads the current ordinances, North- <br />western College Is a non-conforming (pre-existing) use in this R-I <br />district, whIch may not be allowed to expand. He said h~ understands <br />that this Counc! I some years ago did approve a building permit to remodel <br />the radio station offices at Northwestern Col lege and has approved a <br />number of enlargements at Bethel College which is also a non-conforming <br />use in an R-i district Cas he understands the ordinance'. He said these <br />are obviously mistakes made by fallable Councilmen, 1ncluding himself. <br /> <br />Crichton said he believes that the new zoning ordinance stemming from <br />the 1976 Comprehensive Plan wi II correct the situation to permit priVate <br />colleges in residentl la districts, and thus enable both Northwestern <br />and Bethel to SUbmit a master plan and presumably receive Special Use <br />Permits for planned growth. <br /> <br />Crl chton sa I d that he must cons i der th i s app II cat I on on the ord f nances <br />In effect at the time it was submitted and therefore moves that this <br />Counci I deny the Special Use Permit requested by Northwestern College <br />on the basis that private colleges are not a permitted use in residential <br />districts. <br /> <br />Crichton said he extends to the College his apologies that our previous <br />mistakes may have led them into believing that we would continue to <br />make the same mistakes. <br /> <br />In discussion, Wingert noted that if Council denies the Special Use <br />Permit, ordinance requires that no application shall be re-submltted for <br />six months; suggested that Northwestern College may desire to withd~aw <br />Its application so re-submlttal would not be necessary. <br /> <br />Woodburn said he does not consider the College to be a non-conforming <br />use; definition approved by Council specifically Includes colleges <br />and universities; City Attorney has stated the application Is appro- <br />priate as submitted; cannot Interpret the ordinance otherwise. <br /> <br />Attorney Thomas Erickson, representing Northwestern College, noted <br />that the 1976 Comprehensive Plan, adopted in February of this year, as <br />well as the 1966 Plan, refers to two major colleges; the map for <br />the 1966 Comprehensive Plan lists colleges under schools:, Erickson <br />further noted that "schools, general educationR, as defined in the pro- <br />posed new zoning ordinance, includes colleges and are shown as Permitted <br />with a Speclel Use Permit In all residential zonas; zoning ordinance <br />must Implement the plan; therefore, col lege Is properly applying for <br />SpecIal Use Permit for. Fine A~ts building on the campus - a permitted <br />use In R-I. <br /> <br />Woodburn noted that thera Is a provision In the current Plan that, In <br />It Is opi n I on, wou I d a II ow mod I fl cat Ions thereof to be made by ord I nance <br />changes; although the two should be in concordance; the Plan Is the basic <br />tool to avoid hap-hazard declslo~s; the Zoning Ordinance up-dates the <br />Co.prehenslve Plan. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Attorney lippert said he does not agree. He stated that schools and <br />colleges are not the same; does not feel colleges should be permitted <br />in residential zones, only In L-B. He said the ordinance was revIsed <br />In 1973 to be more restrictive to only permit uses as listed. Lippert <br />said a college is not a school in -~his ordinance. <br /> <br />Residents speaking In opposition to the Special Use Permit were Rlcha~d <br />Hoffmann and Ward Hanson. <br /> <br />Attorney Lynden referred Council to Ordinance No. 99, Section II! F. 7. <br />x., noting that armories, convention hal Is and slmi lar uses are permIt- <br />ted In all districts with a Special Use Permit. <br /> <br />T. Erickson stated that this provides an alternate means on which to <br />grant the permit at this time; conforms with the Plan and is allowed <br />as a permitted use in the present zoning ordinance; Fine Arts build- <br />Ing Is weil within Interpretation of the ordinance; decision should be <br />made on these facts. <br /> <br />Senator R. Ashbach stated hA feels that the arguments appear to be <br />sound and present. a "tough decision" for the Council; suggested that <br />-3- <br />