Laserfiche WebLink
Planning Commission Minutes Page 6 <br /> November 22,2016 <br /> Craig Kepler, from the law firm of Lindquist and Vennum LLP, 80 South 8th Street, Suite <br /> 2000,Minneapolis,is the attorney representing the applicant and indicated the applicant <br /> intends to continue its good neighbor status with Mr. Robideau and the other industrial <br /> businesses at that location. He noted there's already a broad category of uses and <br /> vehicle/foot traffic in the area. He stated they are requesting to add 200 7th and 8th grade <br /> students who are not driving vehicles to school, so it will not be increasing parked vehicles in <br /> the parking lot. He also stated there haven't been any accidents involving the students and <br /> the school intends to continue to keep them safe. <br /> Chair Johnson asked Mr. Kepler to explain the school's long-term goals and if their intention <br /> was to grow within the business park or eventually move the school to a different location to <br /> fit the growth. <br /> Mr. Kepler indicated the ultimate goal of the school was to become a school serving 6-12 <br /> graders and intends to stay there as the school is financially invested in that location with no <br /> other plans in place to change locations. <br /> Commissioner Rydberg asked if they had been any other businesses in the area that <br /> approached the school with concerns regarding the expansion plans. <br /> Mr. Kepler indicated he was not aware of any concerns from other businesses. <br /> There being no one else present to comment on the matter, Chair Johnson closed the public <br /> hearing. <br /> Commissioner Thiel expressed his concerns regarding the location of the school and felt that <br /> although the school was a good one,in his opinion,it was located in the wrong spot and he <br /> was not in favor of approving further expansion. He stated he felt the school seemed like an <br /> odd fit,as the original intention of the building was to serve industrial businesses. <br /> Commissioner Rydberg agreed with Commissioner Thiel and indicated the city put many <br /> funds towards this area intended to be an industrial park and generating tax revenue. His <br /> understanding is that approving the school in this location was a short term fix and may be <br /> turning away other businesses that wish to locate here. He felt like the Planning Commission <br /> may be delaying the inevitable by allowing an expansion in an area which may not be <br /> appropriate. <br /> Commissioner Konietzko asked if the city has received any comments regarding the school <br /> in the past and if the original Conditional Use Permit was meant to be a short term or long <br /> term permit. <br /> Mr. Carlton indicated the comments heard today from adjacent property owners were new. <br /> He indicated the initial ordinance amendment allowing an institutional use to locate there in <br /> 2010 was not supported by staff or the Planning Commission and stated Spectrum did not <br /> expect to grow as quickly as they did in this location, taking them both by surprise. <br /> Mr. Kepler stated the school has to borrow money at 30-year maturity terms to build a high <br /> school and would not be financially prudent to relocate before the end of the prepayment <br />