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REQUEST FOR PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION ~ Approval: Description: Meritex Enterprises (owner of High crest Business Park) request for a rezoning from 1-2 to a mixed land use Planned Unit Development Zone to allow a portion of the site, at 2285 Walnut Street, to be used for two Charter Schools. (PF3301). Manager Approved: DATE: 05/09/01 ITEM NO: 6f Agenda Section: Public Hearing 1.0 REQUESTED ACTION 1.1 Meritex Enterprises, owner of the Highcrest Business Park has requested approval of an amendment to City Zoning Map and Code (Section 1007 and 1008) to create a Planned Unit Development (PUD) having a mix of uses on the 24 acre business park site. The site is currently zoned and designated 1-2 General Industrial in the Official Zoning Map. The proposed amendment would change the zoning from "1-2" to "B-PUD" with an underlying zoning of"B-6" to allow a mix of uses, including two charter schools, not commonly found in the same building or zone. 2.0 BACKGROUND 2.1 Meritex, at its Highcrest Business Park, 2285 Walnut, has proposed a zoning amendment from 1-2 to PUD to allow 50,000 square feet of existing space within the 695,800 s.f. building to be renovated in 2 phases for an elementary school (Twin Cites International Elementary School) and middle school (Minnesota International Middle School) on a 24-acre site within the Highcrest Business Park Building #1. The Charter School sponsor is Century College, which envisions this as an opportunity for college students to work with (and learn from) elementary school children. The teacher to student ratio is not expected to exceed 1 :20. In addition, there will be up to 4 to 5 college students on the site at anyone time. When both phases are completely occupied to capacity (1 :20), 520 students could be on the site at one time. 2.2 If approved, this PUD Amendment would allow Meritex to isolate (by separate entry, corridor and firewall) a mix of uses such as circuit board manufacturing (Multek), general office, an exercise area, a cafeteria, a small bank, state social service offices, a telecommunications switching equipment center, and Honeywell and Unisys computer services. School facilities would be located on the southwestern corner of the first floor. Since the non-profit is leasing space from Meritex, property taxes will continue to be received on the 50,000 s.L The building is the single largest industrial building in the city. It is sprinklered. The building "footprint" of exterior walls will not change. PF3301 RPCA (050901) - Page 1 of9