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AttachmentA 1 PLANNING FILE 12-008 2 Request by Lincoln Drive Properties, LLC, for approval of a zoning text amendment which would 3 allow academic instruction as a use in commercial zoning districts 4 Vice Chair Gisselquist opened the Public Hearing for File 12-008 at approximately 6:37 p.m. 5 Associate Planner Bryan Lloyd briefly summarized the request for a ZONING TEXT CHANGE to allow 6 academic classes to be taught in office settings in addition to more traditional campus settings; as 7 detailed in the Request for Planning Commission Action dated June 2, 2012. 8 Staff recommended approval of the proposed ZONING TEXT CHANGE to Chapters 1001 (Introduction), 9 Chapter 1005 (Commercial and Mixed Use Districts), Chapter 1006 (Employment Districts), 1007 10 (Institutional District), Chapter 1009 (Procedures), and Chapter 1011 (Property Performance Standards) 11 as detailed in Section 7 of the staff report (Attachment A) to facilitate such office-based classes as a use 12 versus other educational facilities. 13 At the request of Member Boguszewski, Mr. Lloyd reviewed distinctions between uses allowed and those 14 prohibited under current text, explaining that a college’s administrative office functions (e.g., bursar) 15 would be allowed because of its essential office nature even though the office may be owned by or 16 operated for an institutional, college entity. 17 Applicant 18 Brian Humphries, Northwestern College, Associate Vice President of Campus Operations 19 Mr. Humphries reviewed the background of why this building (i.e., 2803 Lincoln Drive), already owned by 20 Northwestern College, had been chosen to house their nursing program. Mr. Humphries noted that the 21 State called for a certain square footage for such a nursing program; and this amount, 7,300 square feet, 22 was available in the 2803 building currently owned by the College, and not currently used at full capacity. 23 Mr. Humphries advised that the first floor of the office building was currently leased out to Edina Realty, 24 with the other floors occupied by the College, mostly for office space. Mr. Humphries opined that this was 25 the logical location for the nursing program; and that no other academic buildings or space on the campus 26 proper was currently available for a program of that size. 27 Bruce Simat, Northwestern College, Biology Department Chair 28 Having helped to start the biology program, and in his eighteen (18) years tenure at Northwestern 29 College, Mr. Simat opined that a nursing program was the next logical step for the College to initiate. Mr. 30 Simat advised that such a program and been discussed for the last decade, and more seriously 31 considered over the last five (5) years. 32 Mr. Simat advised that projections indicated that the program would not be immediately filled to its State- 33 monitored capacity, but could be filled in the future. Mr. Simat noted that it was not the College’s intent to 34 expand the program in an effort to keep the program manageable and of high-quality. Mr. Simat noted 35 that students currently receiving medical education of one nature or another at Northwestern College 36 were known in the industry to be of high quality, with a 90% placement rate for Northwestern College 37 students in medical professions, based on that high quality. 38 From his professional perspective regarding the proposed space itself, Mr. Simat opined that it has the 39 right professional appearance for now; and if and when possible, the program could come back onto the 40 campus proper; however, he advised that this was not anticipated to occur in the near future. 41 At the request of Member Strohmeier, Mr. Humphries advised that the current enrollment at Northwestern 42 College was 1,700 traditional students. 43 At the request of Member Strohmeier regarding projections for how many additional students would be 44 enrolled as a result of adding this nursing program, Mr. Humphries advised that about two (2) classes of 45 twelve (12) students each was anticipated initially; with the maximum as the program grew to be no more 46 than thirty-six (36) for each class, or a maximum total of seventy-two (72) nursing students. 47 At the request of Member Strohmeier regarding the number of additional administrative staff, Mr. 48 Humphries advised that five (5) additional professors were anticipated, but not much support staff, as 49 most of the nursing space would be utilized for simulation labs. 50 At the request of Vice Chair Gisselquist, Mr. Lloyd reviewed parking related to an amended use at this 51 site. Mr. Lloyd advised that staff’s review of the request did not present any parking concerns with the 52 proposed use of the existing facility for simulation/lab space, and no greater traffic or parking generation 53 than a typical office use. Regarding Vice Chair Gisselquist’s comment regarding any potential future use Page1of6