Approved: April 5, 2017 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA PLANNING COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2017 6:30 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Chair Roberta Thompson called to order the regular Planning Commission meeting at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Present were: Chair Roberta Thompson, Commissioners Nick Gehrig, Steven Jones, James Lambeth, and Phillip Neururer. Absent: Commissioners Brent Bartel (excused), Angela Hames (excused) and Clayton Zimmerman (excused). Also present were: Senior Planner Matthew Bachler, Eric Zweber, WSB, Hannah Rybak, WSB and Councilmember Fran Holmes. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MARCH 8, 2017 Chair Thompson stated the agenda will stand as published. APPROVAL OF MINUTES February 8, 2017 Planning Commission Regular Meeting Commissioner Lambeth moved, seconded by Commissioner Jones, to approve the February 8, 2017, Planning Commission Regular Meeting minutes as presented. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). PLANNING CASES A. Planning Case 17-003; Subdivision Code Amendment Public Use Dedications (Section 1130.08, Subd. 3) Senior Planner Bachler explained the Planning Commission tabled Planning Case 17-003 at their regular meeting on February 8, 2017 because the application was not complete. This case was tabled until the next regular Planning Commission meeting on March 8, 2017.
ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION March 8, 2017 2 Senior Planner Bachler reported staff continues to work on the Subdivision Code Amendment proposed in Planning Case 17-003, however, this item will not be complete in time to include on the March 8, 2017 Planning Commission agenda. Staff requested the Planning Commission table Planning Case 17-003 until such time that a full review can be completed. Notice of the required public hearing for this case will be republished once it has been rescheduled. Commissioner Lambeth questioned when this Planning Case would be ready for review. Senior Planner Bachler stated this item was related to the TCAAP redevelopment project and park dedication fees. He anticipated this case would come before the Planning Commission within the next few months. Commissioner Gehrig moved and Commissioner Lambeth seconded a motion to table action on Planning Case 17-003. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS A. Planning Case 17-006 Higher Education Moratorium Study Eric Zweber, WSB, explained on October 10, 2016, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2016-008 An Interim Ordinance Temporarily Prohibiting Land Use Applications and Reviews for Higher Education Uses in Residential, Business, Industrial and Other Zones. The moratorium can last up to one year to prepare a study to determine the impacts and benefits from higher education land uses and provide recommendations for possible Zoning Code and/or Comprehensive Plan amendments regarding higher education uses. The City Council discussed at the December 19, 2016 Work Session that the study would involve the economic impact of higher education uses within the commercial and employment zones and would be led by the Planning Commission with the assistance of the Economic Development Commission. Mr. Zweber stated based on the direction given by the City Council, WSB and Associates has prepared a proposal to conduct the planning and economic development study. The study is comprised of seven components: Background gathering and analysis of the existing Campus Master Plans for the University of Northwestern and Bethel University. Analysis of the Commercial and Employment Uses currently allowed in the various Commercial and Industrial Zones. Analysis of the Employment and Economic Activity that results from the allowed Commercial and Employment Uses. The regulation of Higher Education Uses within other communities. Analysis of existing parcels and buildings within the Commercial and Industrial zones. Preparation of a Final Report. Zoning Code and Comprehensive Plan Amendments based on the Report s recommendations. Mr. Zweber reported Arden Hills has approved a Campus Master Plan (CMP) for Bethel University in 2012 and a CMP for the University of Northwestern in 2007. Both CMPs show
ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION March 8, 2017 3 opportunities for additional buildings and classrooms on the respective campuses, but both universities have requested the development of higher educational facilities off of their campuses. Bethel has classrooms and administrative offices at the Anderson Center located at 2 Pine Tree Drive, formerly occupied by Country Financial. In October 2016, Northwestern submitted an application to convert the former Smiths Medical buildings at Grey Fox Road and Snelling Avenue into a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) facility. Mr. Zweber explained the Planning Commission and the City Council have both questioned why the colleges are looking for facilities off of their campuses when their CMPs show that they can build facilities on campus. To help answer that question, Arden Hills staff has interviewed the President of Northwestern and the President and other staff from Bethel. Mr. Zweber commented that to understand the universities future plans, staff asked for each board s top priorities. The priorities for both universities include growing enrollment which will require additional facilities. To build additional facilities, they both will need to raise significant resources and funds. Bethel stated that they can accommodate their growth expectations through new buildings on their campus and the expansion of the Anderson Center. However, they did state that they would like to be able to pursue opportunities for building new or acquiring existing buildings off of their campus as well. Staff reviewed the top priorities for both Bethel University and the University of Northwestern. Mr. Zweber reported Northwestern stated they cannot meet their growth expectations on their current campus. Northwestern is looking for sites in Arden Hills, Roseville or Shoreview to build additional facilities which would be designed for adult and graduate students and would not include student housing. Mr. Zweber indicated during the Planning Commission s review of the application from Northwestern regarding the Smiths Medical property on November 9, 2016, the President of Northwestern stated that it would cost about $150 per square foot to renovate the Smiths Medical buildings into a STEM facility while new construction would be closer to $400 per square foot. Staff at Bethel noted similar experiences with the cost savings associated with renovation versus new construction. Both universities stated that the cost savings outweighs the separation for their existing campus, particularly if they intend to use the facilities for adult or graduate courses in which the students typically would not live on campus. Mr. Zweber explained the University of Minnesota recently ended its 3-2 engineering program with all of its partner colleges and universities. The 3-2 program allowed students to attend three years of college at their first college or university (including Bethel and Northwestern) and then transfer to the University of Minnesota for the final two years of the engineering program. The University of Minnesota has terminated this agreement with all other colleges and universities, but has agreed to honor any students that have started the program before the agreement expired. This means that Bethel and Northwestern will need to have their own junior and senior level engineering programs established by Fall 2018. The President of Northwestern stated that the university will need to find a temporary facility by May 2018 and a permanent facility to house the engineering program by Fall 2019. Mr. Zweber reported Bethel has a total of 4,267 students, of which 1,153 are graduate level. Northwestern has a total 3,231 students, of which 213 are graduate level. Bethel plans on
ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION March 8, 2017 4 increasing the Continuing Adult and Professional Programs enrollment to 4,000 students. Northwestern plans on growing their total enrollment to 7,000 students while they have room for only about 2,500 full time traditional students on campus. Both universities plan on adding enrollment through increasing the number of programs that they offer. These new programs are expected to include a significant amount of online instruction. Mr. Zweber stated in addition to the mathematics, science, and engineering courses, Bethel plans on adding physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training and doctorate of nursing programs at the Anderson Center within the next five years. Northwestern plans on adding bachelor of science in data analytics, master of biology, master of data analytics, master of nursing, engineering, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician s assistant and nurse practitioner programs and hopes to eventually have a medical college. Northwestern does not currently have facilities for these new programs and there is not enough room to accommodate all of the new programs on their campus. Staff reviewed the current student population for both Bethel University and the University of Northwestern. Mr. Zweber commented that due to the desire of both universities to grow their programs and enrollment, and the cost savings from converting existing building into higher education facilities, Arden Hills should continue to expect requests from both Bethel and Northwestern to expand their facilities into the existing business and industrial zones. Hannah Rybak, WSB, stated for the purposes of this study, all applicable land uses within the City were assigned a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. The NAICS is used by businesses and governments throughout North America, and is also used for industry information in the United States Census. It is being used for this study so that the land uses within districts correlate and can be evaluated in the same manner as employment and income by industry. Ms. Rybak discussed the purpose and allowed uses for the following zoning districts: Neighborhood Business (NB) & Limited Business (B-1) General Business (B-2), Service Business (B-3) and Retail Center District (B-4) Gateway Business (GB) and I-FLEX Limited Industrial (I-1) and General Industrial (I-2) Mr. Zweber concluded his report be stating both Bethel and Northwestern desire to acquire or construct off-campus facilities. He encouraged the Planning Commission to consider if the City needed nine different zoning districts. Commissioner Lambeth asked how many of the nine zoning districts would allow educational uses. Mr. Zweber reported at this time higher education was allowed by Conditional Use Permit in the B-1, B-2, B-4, and Civic Center zoning districts, and by PUD in the R-1 district. Commissioner Lambeth understood the Smiths Medical campus was vacant at this time and that the University of Northwestern was interested in this space.
ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION March 8, 2017 5 Mr. Zweber stated this was the case but noted the City and brokers were showing this space to other interested parties as well. Commissioner Lambeth believed that Bethel had expansion opportunities onsite, while Northwestern does not. He questioned what staff recommended based on the information that has been gathered. Mr. Zweber indicated he had no recommendations for the Planning Commission at this time. He explained that staff was too early into the study to make any recommendations, but would continue to evaluate higher education before coming to any conclusions. Commissioner Gehrig suggested staff speak with the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce regarding the study, along with the major employers in the community. Commissioner Jones asked if additional on campus housing would be needed for Bethel and Northwestern in order to house all of the new students. Mr. Zweber reported the bulk of the new students were expected to be non-traditional adults or online students. Chair Thompson discussed the impact of the Anderson Center on the City s traffic patterns. She requested staff investigate how additional students and off-campus classrooms are going to impact the community. Commissioner Gehrig questioned what zoning district the Anderson Center was located in. Mr. Zweber stated the Anderson Center was in the B-2 zoning district. Councilmember Holmes commented on the number of zoning districts in the City and believed it may be helpful to consider the differences in each district. She believed there was a difference in the business zoning districts versus the industrial zoning districts and the type of traffic each generates. Mr. Zweber reviewed the location of the different business and industrial zoning districts within the City and noted the location of Smiths Medical. He looked forward to further investigating the location and purposes of the City s various zoning districts. Further discussion ensued regarding the traffic that was generated by industrial and heavy manufacturing uses. Mr. Zweber thanked the Commission for their input and stated the City Council and Planning Commission will discuss the Higher Education Moratorium Study at a joint Work Session meeting on Monday, March 20 at 5:00 p.m. At their regular meeting on May 3, 2017, the Planning Commission will be reviewing the employment and economic activity from the commercial and industrial uses and how other communities zone for higher educational uses.
ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION March 8, 2017 6 REPORTS A. Report from the City Council Councilmember Holmes updated the Planning Commission on City Council activities from the February 13, 2017 Regular Meeting. The City Council approved the creation of a Task Force to investigate and recommend to the Council potential uses for the TCAAP Civic property, including a city hall, community center, recreational and fitness center, event and educational center, and other options. In evaluating options for the property, the Task Force will look at existing facilities in neighboring communities, investigate partnership opportunities, and provide input on financial and staffing implications. Councilmember Holmes reported the Task Force will be comprised of a total of eleven members, two of which will be members of the Planning Commission. The Task Force will be supported by a consulting firm the City will select to manage the planning process for the property. A Request for Proposals for consulting services was issued on February 28. Proposals must be received by April 28 and the City Council is expected to select a consultant on June 12. The first meeting of the Task Force will be convened after a consulting firm has been selected. Councilmember Holmes stated at the February 20, 2017 City Council Work Session, the City Council met with Metropolitan Council Member Marie McCarthy, who represents the district Arden Hills is located in. Staff from the Metropolitan Council attended the meeting and presented information on the Snelling Avenue A-Line Bus Rapid Transit route, issues regarding inflow and infiltration, and grant opportunities the City may be able to take advantage of. Commissioner Jones requested the Council consider putting a trail in across the wetlands near Tony Schmidt Park to improve pedestrian safety and to keep kids off the street. B. Planning Commission Comments Chair Thompson encouraged the Planning Commission members to attend the Joint Council/ Planning Worksession on Monday, March 20 th at 5:30 p.m. C. Staff Comments Senior Planner Bachler reported WSB would be holding a workshop at their office in St. Louis Park and the topic would be Planning 101. He indicated the workshop would be held on Saturday, April 1 st from 9:00 a.m. to noon. He encouraged the Planning Commissioners to register for this free event. ADJOURN Commissioner Jones moved, seconded by Commissioner Lambeth, to adjourn the March 8, 2017, Planning Commission Meeting at 7:37 p.m. The motion carried unanimously (5-0).