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Planning Commission Meeting <br />Minutes – Wednesday, March 07, 2007 <br />Page 3 <br /> <br />administrative to student ratio; alternative education programs; rationale for the <br />location of the proposed dormitory, given topography considerations and Master Plan <br />realities; and the college’s role in improvements at intersections adjacent to the <br />college as a beneficiary and a responsible neighbor. <br /> <br />Additional discussion included natural protection areas on campus through detailed <br />surface water management plans, above and beyond the legal and procedural <br />requirements; importance to the college of protecting the bodies of water; college’s <br />willingness to continue to work with neighbors on areas of concern (i.e., the refuse <br />hauler hours now solved, and adjusting the athletic field speakers to reduce noise <br />projection to neighbors); and continued willingness of the college to be responsive to <br />expressed concerns. <br /> <br />Mr. Lindgren and Commissioners reviewed each specific condition detailed in the staff <br />report; with Mr. Lindgren expressing the applicant’s support for the conditions, and <br />continued fine-tuning of the PUD in staff/applicant discussions; and the ramifications <br />and impacts of each condition to the applicant, the City and its residents. <br /> <br />Discussion among Commissioners and the applicant further included the proposed <br />berm and grades; location of the ring road and elevations; setback considerations and <br />requirements between the Cities of Arden Hills and Roseville; the college’s <br />commitment to not grow beyond their optimum size for the existing campus and this <br />type of institution; students, academic programs, and outreach into the community; <br />community events open to the public; and possible noise and light abatement and/or <br />mitigation for adjacent neighbors to the existing dorm (building #9). <br /> <br />Further discussion included location of the parking garage and rationale for its <br />location; circulation of vehicles within the campus and ingress/egress issues; shuttling <br />for students and for athletic events; off-site parking arrangements with other <br />institutions with large parking lots for special events; student safety in crossing from <br />off-campus housing across Snelling Avenue; and creative thinking for accommodating <br />issues raised by the public. <br /> <br />Public Questions <br />Acting Chair Bakeman clarified for the public that the issues for discussion related to <br />the PUD application and their location on the campus, not off-campus; and advised <br />the audience that the Commission would first hear questions for the applicant and <br />Commissioners; then would proceed to comments; and respectfully requested that <br />speakers allow as much brevity as possible for their comments. <br /> <br />Theresa (Tess) DeGeest, 3116 Ridgewood Road <br />Ms. DeGeest noted the close-knit community in the neighborhood, and sought <br />clarification on the height of the berm above the parking garage and dorm. <br /> <br />Mr. Lindgren responded that the parking garage should be below the berm; and while <br />the building was not fully designed yet, was anticipated to be roughly at grade level, <br />with the dorm one story above the potential berm (overall a 2-3 story building). Mr. <br />Lindgren noted that there would be plantings on top of the berm as well, further <br />screening adjacent properties. <br /> <br />Greg Larson, 3077 Asbury (east property line) <br />Mr. Larson sought additional and specific clarification with berming; questioning the <br />existence of a twenty-foot (20’) power line easement or right-of-way; setback <br />considerations; and opined that the public should be allowed comment at each phase <br />of the proposed development, particularly concerning the berming. <br /> <br />