Laserfiche WebLink
AttachmentA <br />54 <br />this amendment could allow for a larger campus in this zoning district beyond the Northwestern College <br />55 <br />use, Mr. Lloyd noted that this office building had more parking per square foot than required for office <br />56 <br />uses, and more parking per square foot than the Minneapolis Business College (i.e., in the Rosewood <br />57 <br />Office Building which has not posed any parking issues or concerns. Conceptually, Mr. Lloyd advised that <br />58 <br />it was anticipated that parking needs with this use would be similar to that of other office space uses. <br />59 <br />Mr. Humphries advised that no more than twenty-five (25) vehicles would be anticipated daily for students <br />60 <br />and staff; and further advised that a majority of the students would arrive to the site by campus shuttle. <br />61 <br />Vice Chair Gisselquist noted that the rationale for his concern regarding parking was based on his <br />62 <br />observations with the University of St. Thomas that overwhelmed the adjacent residential neighborhood <br />63 <br />on evenings and/or weekends. However, Vice Chair Gisselquist advised that this use, as well as most <br />64 <br />other such uses in Roseville didn’t compare to that intensity. <br />65 <br />City Planner Thomas Paschke concurred, noting that St. Thomas is a campus, and essentially different <br />66 <br />than this office-based use. <br />67 <br />Member Strohmeier asked the applicant, as a private college, to highlight some of the benefits or <br />68 <br />activities on a broader basis that Northwestern College provided to the community beyond a high-quality <br />69 <br />educational experience. <br />70 <br />Mr. Simat noted, from a personal perspective, the number of biology majors currently employed by ACR <br />71 <br />Homes and student interning and experiences serving as PCA’s as part of their education. Mr. Simat also <br />72 <br />reviewed other facilities where his students were working in the community, as well as at Presbyterian <br />73 <br />Homes’ Eagle Crest and the MN Zoo. Within his realm as a pre-med advisory, Mr. Simat advised that all <br />74 <br />of his 75-100 students were doing something within the community; and also noted that this was required <br />75 <br />on their individual resumes as well as to confirm that this was their career choice. Mr. Simat noted that <br />76 <br />ACR loved the students from Northwestern College for their quality, as previously addressed. <br />77 <br />Public Comments <br />78 <br />Gary Grefenberg, 91 Mid Oaks Lane <br />79 <br />Mr. Grefenberg advised that he was speaking for himself and not as a representative of SWARN; and <br />80 <br />expressed his concerns about the continual expansion of Northwestern College off their campus and their <br />81 <br />ever-increasing number of students. As an example, Mr. Grefenberg noted the student dormitories on the <br />82 <br />east side of Snelling Avenue in an area zoned residential; the KTIS radio station replacing a property-tax <br />83 <br />paying automobile agency; and now this additional expansion. <br />84 <br />From another perspective, Mr. Grefenberg noted Northwestern College’s position of open opposition to <br />85 <br />the gay and lesbian community. <br />86 <br />Mr. Grefenberg expressed concern about the continual increase in traffic and demand for public services <br />87 <br />of Northwestern College; and expansion into areas that the City’s Comprehensive Plan didn’t envision; <br />88 <br />opining that this issue is more significant than a Zoning Text Amendment. Mr. Grefenberg expressed <br />89 <br />further concern in his perception that the Planning Commission considered the Comprehensive Plan was <br />90 <br />an element without legal authority. However, Mr. Grefenberg noted that the City Council had recently had <br />91 <br />a second opinion on that as it related specifically to the Wal-Mart proposal before that body. <br />92 <br />Mr. Grefenberg advised that he had an opportunity to discuss his concerns with Mr. Lloyd prior to <br />93 <br />tonight’s meeting, and his concerns about parking had been reassured by Mr. Lloyd. However, Mr. <br />94 <br />Grefenberg noted that he had remaining concerns with Roseville citizens being continually asked to pay <br />95 <br />for these services provided for a tax exempt institution. While recognizing the intent of that exemption, <br />96 <br />and not under scrutiny for tonight’s request, Mr. Grefenberg referenced language of Attachment A to the <br />97 <br />staff report (page 3, Item 3.b) that appears to eliminate the need or prevent the City from asking for a City <br />98 <br />Council-approved campus Master Plan for expansion of Northwestern College. Mr. Grefenberg noted the <br />99 <br />expansion having taken place over the last decade as the College campus continues to expand within the <br />100 <br />community, with a corresponding and increased demand for services. <br />101 <br />Mr. Grefenberg questioned what steps had been taken for payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT). Mr. <br />102 <br />Grefenberg expressed further concern with making this a permitted use rather than a Conditional Use; <br />103 <br />opining that the City may find itself with another expansion of a tax-exempt entity using this Text <br />104 <br />Amendment. From his motivation, Mr. Grefenberg expressed his realization that this seemed to create a <br />105 <br />backdoor to change the Comprehensive Plan yet again. <br />106 <br />Mr. Paschke asked Mr. Grefenberg which portion of the Comprehensive Plan he was referring to. <br />Page2of6 <br /> <br />