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Planning Commission Minutes Wednesday, August 4, 1982 -5- Planning File 1386 - NCR-Comten request for rezoning from R-l to B-1 at 2800 Arona. Presentation Mr. Dahlgren indicated that recently School District 621 had closed the Ralph Reeder School, and put the property up for sale. This property has been purchased by Comten for the purpose of conducting a training center in the existing structure. He noted the land currently is zoned R-l, and that rezoning to B-1 would be necessary to conduct a private training center at this location. Mr. Dahlgren pointed out that the applicant proposes to construct an access road from their current development northerly to the school property, and close the access road from Arona Street to all but emergency vehicles. Mr. Dahlgren noted that there was some interest in the neighborhood to restricting the area to be rezoned to only the developed portion of this site. He noted if this were done, that the remaining portions of the parcel would likely also be committed to an ultimate B-I zoning when requested, as the use of this area for single-family homes would them be quite impractical. Discussion Mr. Deets Mittelstadt, representing the applicant, indicated that Comten proposes to close two existing training operations and consolidate this activity in the existing school building. He noted the building would house 50 employees, with approximately 100 students being common. He stated the operation would be conducted between the hours of 8:00 and 5:00, and that the existing parking was in excess of their proposed parking needs. He stated that while Comten has no plans within the near future for expansion to the undeveloped portions of the site, they do wish to rezone the entirety of the parcel instead of only that area currently developed. Some of the neighbors who were present at the meeting expressed their concern that rezoning all of the parcel would open the door to unknown development in the future, of which they would receive no notification, or have the opportunity for input. Mr. Dahlgren indicated that the Commission might wish to consider an amendment to the B-1 zoning district that would require site plan approval for all developments. He noted that if this were adopted, future development would involve a public hearing process before the Planning Commission and the Council, and that the neighborhood would be notified of such a meeting. Several of the neighbors present felt there was no need for such an ordinance change, and that simply partially rezoning the property would be a preferable alternative. Mr. Tim Hedlund, a member of the Board of Trustees of the church property to the northwest, expressed concern over control of access to the property off of Arona. He suggested that Arona Street right-of-way be vacated to prohibit access in the future. Mr. Rukavina pointed out that by closing off Arona, the City would be creating the "longest cul-de-sac" in the City, and that such situation would be very undesirable from a fire protection standpoint. It was noted that some sort of drive-over control, such as guardposts, could be utilized to control access to only emergency vehicles. Mr. Drown noted that the southeasterly portion of the site was a low area which functioned as a storm water detention pond. He noted that when Comten developed their existing property to the south, that portion of the land occupied by the pond was described