CCP 01-22-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Concept P.U.D. Hamline Campus December 3, 2001 Guidant Corporation 4100 N Hamline Avenue Arden Hills, MN 55112 . Written Statement Size of Development: Approximately 85.6 acres Proposed 2.25 million square feet of building area, developed over a 20-year period. Nature of Applicant's Interest: Guidant Corporation is planning for substantial employee growth in the near and long term. It is anticipating an employee population of 6,300 in the year 2015. A large portion of these positions will be filled by highly trained, skilled professionals in the areas of research, manufacturing, sales and administration. Guidant has recently acquired the 38-acre parcel of land immediately east of its 47-acre headquarters site, forming a new 85-acre campus. The time is appropriate to initiate a conceptual campus plan, which will accommodate the pressing growth being experienced by Guidant and also allow for future development. Development Concept: The overall concept is to create a more unified campus capable of providing for Guidant's future employee growth, while maintaining the relatively low visual impact the current development projects. The development concept maximizes the amount of building square footage on the site while maintaining, even increasing green space within the site boundaries. Current and future development will maintain and enhance the existing "green edge" around the site, concentrate taller buildings toward the center of the property, and substantially reduce the amount of surface parking by creating parking ramps which will allow for the "greening'~ of the campus. . DensitylIntensity of Land Use: Please refer to the following sheets. Development Period and Phasing: The development plan will be phased over a 20-year period. Construction of new buildings and parking ramps will be coordinated with the projected growth in staff of Guidant Corporation. In the next three years plans call for the following: a) Year 2002, design and construction of a new training center (Bldg. L); b) Year 2003, begin expansion of building E (Additions I & J); c) Year 2004, complete building E additions, construct 600 space parking ramp, start design of new tower (Bldg. K) and create "New Front Door," Potential Modifications in Zoning Districts, etc: Although the proposed development plan follows closely the underlying I-I zoning district guidelines for building area, lot coverage and landscape area, we propose to establish a Planned Unit Development for the entire site. Initial consideration given to vehicular and pedestrian circulation through the site and increases in allowable heights of structures indicates benefit to both tbe City of Arden Hills and Guidant if a more broad scope of planning ideas is introduced for discussion. The P.U.D. process is specifically designed to allow for this type of comprehensive planning approach. . Reasons for Modifications from Zoning and Benefits to Public Interests/City Comprehensive Development Plan: The primary modification from the underlying I-I zoning classification requirements is the creation of taller structures than is currently permitted. The maximum allowable height 005 feet severely limits the ability of Guidant Corporation to create a development plan that accommodates their projected growth in staff over the next 20-year period. We believe the size of the campus, approximately 85.6 acres, provides a means to increase the height of a few structures without imposing visually, in an undue manner, upon the surrounding neighbors. The concept plan, as submitted, achieves the necessary amount of building area to support employee growth rates, while still maintaining approximately 48% of the campus as green space. Additional benefits to the City include: A substantial increase in the tax base; strides towards Comprehensive Plan goals related to trails, natural resources and land use mix; creation of thousands of job opportunities for highly skilled professionals.