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9.2. SR 10-02-1995~~~ ~~ ity of .~~ lk • River TO: FROM: DATE: MEMORANDUM Mayor & City Council ITEM 9.2. Steven B. Ach, City Planner-,~~~"`°~~`-~ October 2, 1995 SUBJECT: Conditional Use Permit Request by R.E.P. Ltd. of Elk River, Public Hearing Case No. CU 95-22 Issue R.E.P. Ltd. of Elk River is requesting a conditional use permit to operate an education institutional use in the C3 (Highway Commercial) zoning district. • Location Lot 1, Block 1, Auburn Commons 2nd Addition (the northeast corner of Dodge Avenue and 5th Street behind Indy Lube). Zoning/Land Use C3 (Highway Commercial) / HB (Highway Business) Attachments • Memo from Police Department • Location map • Zoning Map • Site Plan • Letter from I.S.D. #728 dated November 18, 1993 Overview of Proposed Use The Area Learning Center is a high school diploma program offered through Elk River School District #728 for "at risk" students ranging in age from 14 to adult. The school also gives students the opportunity to make up classes in the afternoon or evening which they failed at regular school. This 13065 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 490 • Elk River, MN 55330 • (612) 441-7420 • Fax: (612) 441-7425 educational opportunity was previously operating at the old city hall site which is located on 8th Street just east of Dodge Avenue (north of McDonalds). Along with that application, a letter submitted by the school district was supplied to the city, further explaining the program offered by the school district (see attached letter). It is staffs understanding that the students attending this facility will either be walking or driving their own vehicles to the site. There will be limited bus service to the facility. Police Department Concerns In reviewing this application the police department has identified concerns of possible loitering around the facility and possible conflicts with the surrounding neighborhood. Apparently, there were some reported disturbances at the Area Learning Center's former site on 8th Street. To help deter students loitering outside, the police department has recommended that the site design and landscaping be done in a manner that will not encourage loitering, and at the same time provide a visually safe environment (see attached memo from the police department). Site Improvements • Prior to this request from the school district to operate the Area Learning Center, the existing building was occupied by a church. During the occupancy of the church the patrons utilized an unimproved parking area, along with a site that lacked several improvements. Recently, the church has vacated the building and during this time the property owner has taken it upon himself to make various improvements to the property. These improvements include installing concrete curb and gutter throughout the proposed parking area, as well as preparing for the installation of various landscaping materials to help improve the site. A plan was submitted to staff illustrating these improvements for review and approval.. As part of this conditional use permit request, staff would recommend that the improvements to the parking lot be completed prior to occupying the building. Furthermore, any landscaping proposed along the east property line which is adjacent to existing single family homes include a variety of conifers which will provide year-round screening and between the C-3 property which the subject property is zoned and the existing residential immediately to the east. L~ s:council/cu95-22 Planning Commission Recommendation • The Planning Commission recommended a royal of the conditional use pP permit with the conditions outlined by staff and the following additional conditions: 1) Incorporate comments from the Police Department into the site design and landscaping plans. 2) Sod berm area along east side of property by fall of 1995. 3) Use of the building shall have no adverse affect on adjacent property owners. Recommendation It is recommended the City Council approve the conditional use permit request by R.E.P. Ltd. of Elk River to operate an Area Learning Center educational use with the following conditions: 1) The hours of operation be limited to 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. each day of the week. • 2) The applicant provide staff with a landscape plan illustrating the proposed landscaping that will be completed as part of the various site improvements. 3) Additional drainage information will need to be provided identifying the drainage of the parking area and its direction of flow as it leaves the property. 4) All of the interior improvements to the building be coordinated with the city's building official in order to meet all building code requirements. 5) Incorporate comments from the Police Department into the site design and landscaping plans. 6) Sod berm area along east side of property by fall of 1995. 7) Use of the building shall have no adverse affect on adjacent property owners. • s:councff/cu95-22 Memorandum _~~ -~ ~ ( To: PLANNING COMMISSION s • From: CRIME PREVENTION SPECIALISTS, CTJNZ/EDINGER Elk River Date: SEPTEMBER 2 0 , 19 95 Police Department Subject: .SITE PLAN REVIEW FOR R . E . P . L . T . D This .memo is to express our concerns regarding the above property development. Our records show that this area is a problem area already, therefore, we are concerned .with the proposed changes. Our goal is to have the area more compatible with CPTED design concepts of natural surveillance and territorial behavior. We would like to recommend that the area be kept unobstructed by landscaping features such as clusters of shrubs and groves of trees, which provides hiding places and obstructed viewing from the street into the parking lot. Another concern is park benches or sitting areas. This promotes loitering. This .area does not provide adequate lighting and would only encourage unsafe activities. This area generates youth problems and we feel that a different design would be beneficial at this point. 13065 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 723 • Elk River, MN 55330 • (612) 441-2324 • Fax (612) 441-8937 - n '.rte - -.r ;w ,` • " ~~ r / -. f'- North Mme of the South 411.82` !eel al /I a S.E. 114 0l N.f. 114, Sec. 34.1 Uranoge and Uldily ~ --465.2R-- losemenf described ~_' ~ --- .? 89'36%5" E 3!9.28 --- _ ~ m Ina. # ~6701R.., ~ ~ _ I - o o ~--- ~- ~ ~ 39.2E _- - - - -~ '2 t s O o N :~ m ~_ O ~ ~ f ~ O ~'' \ ~ m ~ "E `'~ \ \ N ~38~ oo m~ " • P"^ ~ ~ i ~ p ;~0 ~ i 'o ~o• ,"t ~ ~ ~~ ? ~ r N ~' _ 2 a r ~ ' 2 ~ y r o ~! 0 0, _ ~ ~~~ ~ B~ acK ~ 1O Q __ rn ~ r a, ~ f, N ' ^ tV • ~ ` qp ` D I ~ m \ , z~, o nj C '. .~i m r 4 I .~.. ~ ~ 7 ` ~-_9Bt5/ 1O 5 rH s rREET ~ `.:i ~- ~ ~~ ~~` ~ -- S B9'36/5" E ~4 23739./p7a--- `Sotlfb l me of Iha S,f ~ Ilq o~ N.E, (lit ~/G.,«j`L..Ls.~~l.~:w~~: ,,, .;r..r.~~ar w-. Q t .. v - -- ---~_. ,~ ri Z. .. .. ~ o ~ ---- ~-- ~ -- ---~ - - Z ~, ,- ,.. ~ ~. i ~ . \ ~____ _ I 1 NOr Ih ~,,,r O} FOSOmenf IOr "sheet and urdily pOrpp~eg" - described .n iris!. ~! 163045. -~ l_ - - - -r, - ~ . h ->- •- . t ~ - ~ ~ . 1 ..~ , ~ J 1 LOCATION MAP ~~ ~ • ~t , ~ Ciry or •,u~ ' ~.i~%~~ j~ ohs` CU 95-22 -~ocaT~oN ZONING MAP 1 a ~~ ' ~ ~ CI^/77O~~I „u1 ~a R~~% e r . .~, CU 95-22 CASs Orono .:~-,:•~~ . __t, .•,>_ ~~ti ~ - ~: •-~ a , ~ _ _-n I N i I ~N~ [J I ~~` `v~ II SITE PLAN N ~t } ~xis~ -n ~ ~'~~' 9 M :.:/ ~ ,;~ ~ ui ~ d. n9 ~~~ .::r m ~:, ~ ~.,. ~/'~ .: ~ V ~v' , .; 2 ab~ ~ 'V° •4~3 N V ~~> ~I i ~ I r7 ~ ~ - ._.. - N N N Sen/~ i" ao • ~ - ~. ~.~.'P 1....-~~. a~ ~IK R~~er ~Sar S0.n~w~r~ y ~U-16-'93 THU 17:32 1 2#945 P@3 AREA LEARNING CEN2ER Independent School District 728 251 8th Street .Elk River MN 55330 24I-3530/ FAX 2Q1-3532 November I8, 1943 To Whom Zt May Concern. ?he Area Learning Center is a high school diploma program offered through Elk River School District 728. for at-risk students ranging in age from 14 to Adult. (We are soon to graduate a 4b year old:} ~fe have students that attend ALC full time. plus we offer make-up elssses for junzor high and senior high students after their regular day school. Lf a student failed a classes} at regular .school. they have the opportunity to attend ALC after school, or in the evettiAg, to make up the necessary credits they need 'to pass to the next grade, or to graduate on Limo With their class. Students generally are referred by their school counselor and. must meet certain criteria; i.a., FOR A ~ .~ iZ - 16 - at least two grades below performance in Inca] achievement test, or - at least ofte year behind in Srsduation credits, or - pregnant or a parent, or - assessed as chemically dependent, or - absent (unexcused) more than 1~ consecutive school days, preceding or current school year. i6 - I9 - attending school. .and at least tRO grades below performance in local achievement test. or - at least one year behind in graduation credits, or - pregnant or a parent, or - assessed as chemically dependent, I6 - 21 - not attending cchc~ol (unexcused absence of at least IS consecutive dRys) and meets one of the .following requirements: - at Ieast two grades belo~e performance in local achievement test, or - at -least one year behind in graduation credits, or - assessed as chemically dependent. 21 - Over - .has less than id years public or non-public education (beginning at age $), - completed 10th grade, but has not graduated or received a GED, and meets ~~ of the folloRins requirements: - eligible faz unemployment compensation or exhausted benefits, or - eligible for income maintenance and support services, or - eligible for any programs under Federal lobs Training Partnership Act, Displaced Homemaker Program, or Minnesota Employment & Economic Development Program. The Area Learning Center is open Monday through ~adnesday, 8 am to 8 pm; Thursday 8 am to 5;30 pm. and Friday 8 am to 4:3Q pm. No classes arc held on Friday. The office is closed Saturday -and Sunday. we have approximately 200 students enrolled; many hold full time jobs, and schedule class days/times around their individual work schedule. . During the day, Monday through Thursday, at any one given time, there are approximately 60 students and 9 staff persons in the • building. Monday through Wednesday, (night classes), there are approximately IS-20 students and 2 staff persons in the building. •