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October 26, 2015 <br />Zack Carlton <br />Elk River Planning Commission <br />13065 Orono Parkway <br />Elk River, Minnesota 55330 <br />The attached application for variance is submitted in conjunction with the Elk River High School Additions and <br />Renovations Site Plan Review submittal. <br />The Elk River High School Additions and Renovations project includes a 24,500 square foot gymnasium and weight <br />room addition including a mechanical mezzanine and approximately 34,000 square feet of interior renovation of the <br />existing building. The gymnasium and weight room addition is proposed to be built within the western setback <br />requirements of the existing wet land located north of Elk River High School. The proposal will not displace any <br />portion of the existing wetland and wetland delineation procedures are currently underway as requested by the City's <br />August 17, 2015 letter. <br />The gymnasium addition will provide needed additional indoor athletic facility space for Elk River High School <br />including two full gym stations and a new 6000 square foot weight room facility. In order to maintain vehicular and <br />visual access to the existing ice arena, preserve the existing wetland in place and be physically connected to the <br />existing Elk River High School building, the addition shall be built in the existing parking lot east of the ice arena and <br />north of the high school. Additionally, the existing west parking lot is planned to be reconstructed during the summer <br />of 2016 under a separate project. Reconstruction efforts will address on site traffic flow issues as well as traffic flow <br />concerns extending into School Street. The plan to reconfigure the west parking lot eliminates any potential to build <br />the gymnasium addition west of the existing Elk River High School. The proposed location is therefore the only <br />viable location for the addition to be built. <br />The variance, if granted, will not alter the essential character of the locality as the existing adjacent buildings are <br />primarily constructed of precast concrete wall panels and exterior face brick. The proposed addition will utilize similar <br />building materials and as stated above, will not displace any portion of the existing wetland. <br />Sincerely, <br />Mark Bezek, Superintendent <br />