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<br />Page 11 of 17 <br /> <br />impediment claimed. <br /> <br />Finally, the finding that the tower would block some "views of the historic landscape and structures on Loring <br /> <br />Hill and views of and from Loring Hill and Pond" is supported by the facts. Therefore, the decision was reasonable on <br /> <br />this basis. <br /> <br />C. "Scale and character of surrounding uses" and "consistency with the Comprehensive Plan" <br /> <br />The evidence supports the findings of both CPED and the Zoning and Planning Committee that Plaintiff's <br />proposed project was not in keeping with the spirit of the Downtown 20 I 0 plan. Specifically, the Downtown 20 I 0 plan <br />states that the City should "[ e ]nsure that new residential development contributes to the sense of neighborhoods through <br />appropriate site planning and architectural design." In addition to the courtroom evidence received, the Court completed <br />a site visit consisting of a tour of the Loring Hill neighborhood. <br />There exists a factual basis for the finding that the proposed twenty-one-story glass-fa9ade slender tower is not <br /> <br />consistent with the scale and character of the neighborhood. The Loring Hill neighborhood consists nearly entirely of <br />low-rise residential and office buildings within the limits of the OR3 Zoning District. And, while varied, the proposed <br />Tower is objectively different, in both exterior appearance and height, from its surroundings. While there is certainly <br />room for argument as to whether the proposed development fits within the scale and character of the neighborhood, this <br />Court must give deference to those findings which have some factual basis. <br />As a result of the City having at least one reasonable, factually based ground to deny Plaintiff's application, <br />Plaintiff's state law claim, that the decision of the City was arbitrary and capricious, is denied. Accordingly, the Federal <br />Constitutional Substantive Due Process claim is also denied. Additionally, the Court need not further analyze the <br />legitimacy of the remaining CUP and variance denials as those issues are moot. <br />[3) <br />IV. Procedural Due Process <br /> <br />"[T]he right to procedural due process is "absolute" in the sense that it does not depend upon the merits of a <br />claimant's substantive due process assertions." Carey v. Piphus, 435 U.S. 247, 266 (1978). "[T]he due process <br />protections granted under the United States and Minnesota Constitutions are identical." Fosse/man v. Comm'r of Human <br /> <br />Services, 612 N.W.2d 456 (Minn. Ct. App. 2000). In the context of zoning decisions, procedural due process requires <br />'reasonable notice of a hearing and a reasonable opportunity to be heard." Barton Contracting Co. v. City of Afton, 268 <br /> <br />N.W.2d 712, 716 (Minn. 1978). <br /> <br />Included within the right to procedural due process is the ability and opportunity to confront and respond to <br /> <br />issues raised that may impact the decision-making process. As stated in the treatise relied upon by the City Attorney for <br /> <br />the City of Minneapolis in its Memorandum on the subject: <br />The due process right to a "fair hearing" on the issue involved clearly prohibits <br /> <br />any use of secret <br /> <br />http://www.minnlawyer.comluserfiIes/pdfi.Order..1020(Final).htrn <br /> <br />9117/2009 <br />