2018.05.15 Planning Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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6 confirm the tenants of the dormitory units are students or facility of the educational uses represented at 575 Stinson Boulevard or 3000 5th Street NW. This examination will regularly occur during the annual Rental Housing License inspection but could also occur at any time should the City be concerned about a tenant’s status as student or faculty. The examination of information shall be consistent with the representations made in the applicant’s supplemental narrative attached to the Planning Report dated May 15, 2018. 10. The plat is reviewed and approved by the Ramsey County Surveyor. 11. Violation of any of the conditions is grounds for revocation of the special use permit by the City. Discussion included: • The Commission asked if it was cumbersome to tie a Special Use Permit to two separate properties. Staff stated while this was unique, this would not be a cumbersome task. • The Commission expressed concerns with the dormitory operating as a rental property in the future. It was recommended Condition #8 be clarified to state these units may only be leased to seminary students and not families of Global Academy students. Peter Beck thanked the Commission for their time and consideration. He explained he was working with the United Theological Seminary and Global Academy on this request. He thanked staff for providing the Commission with a thorough staff report. He reported this request was positive for both parties involved and noted both parties supported all of the staff recommended conditions. Helen Fisk, Global Academy, stated she was very excited to be a part of the New Brighton community. She explained the charter school was currently located in a strip mall in Columbia Heights and was in need of additional space. She reported she has actively been pursuing space for the past two years and was thrilled to have found the space at the seminary. She provided further comment on the curriculum and programs offered by the charter school. She indicated the charter school would be willing to continue hosting the farmer’s market for the community. Commissioner Fynewever asked if the seminary would continue to host classes on this property. Mr. Beck reported there would be no seminary classes offered, only study sessions within the dormitory. Commissioner Fynewever inquired if the charter school would be offering an after school program. Ms. Fisk stated there would be no after school program and noted they ran very limited summer programs. Commissioner Fynewever questioned why enrollment was only being raised by 50 students when the charter school had such a large wait list. Ms. Fisk reported the charter school believed small was better. She explained the school would remain less than 500 students for both academic and social reasons. Commissioner Biedenfeld asked if the Pre-K program would be all day. Ms. Fisk stated the Pre-K program would be all day. Gene DeLong, resident of New Brighton and former member of the EDC, commented he was a big fan of charter schools. However, he inquired what would happen if Global Academy were to move out of the seminary space. He had further questions regarding the charter school’s finances. Ms. Fisk explained all of the charter school’s financial information was available online. She noted the school has a waiting list of 1,200 students and reported she had six different banks offering to loan Global