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Jeff Pearson Region Operations Manager Northlands Region TO: City of Arden Hills FROM: Jeffrey Pearson DATE: September 3, 2009 SUBJECT: CUP Amendment A First i�p St u d e nt Northlands Region Admin Office '1030 Harbor Lane Suite 124 Plymouth, MN 55447' Telephone: (763) 559-8111 Fax: (763) 559-7555 First Student, Inc. is leasing a facility at 1901 Lake Valentine Road, Arden Hills, Minnesota, and is operating a school and charter bus service from the location. Next year will be the 50 year anniversary of that facility operating as a bus terminal, and serving the families and students of the Mounds View School District ISD #621 since it was constructed and first commenced operation in 1960. In 1994, Reco, Inc. was granted a Special Use Permit by the City of Arden Hills to continue the operations of its tenant, Ryder Student Transportation, in conformance with plans submitted to the City. The successor to Reco, Inc. is SOR Real Estate, LLC. The successor to Ryder is First Student, Inc. On page 3 of Special Use Permit Case #93-15A, dated 7/21/94, Clause 4.7, permission is given to operate one hundred fifty (150) buses and twenty (20) vans from September 1 through June 15. First Student requests that this language be changed to t1a maximum of one hundred fifty (150) large buses and a total maximum of one hundred seventy five (175) buses. The reason for this change is that most school districts have experienced growth in the Special Needs transportation area, and some decline in the "regular" transportation area. The Special Needs portion almost always calls for small buses that hold few passengers and may also use a wheelchair lift. These small buses take up much less room than the large buses, usually about half of the space. Vile are asking for an increase of five total buses because the actual student capacity has been reduced due to smaller buses becoming the norm. There will be no visual impact, due to the reduced size of the buses. Also, our buses are quieter and cleaner than they have ever been before, certainly much quieter and cleaner than when the original CUP was requested in 1994.