Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 03/09/1999

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City of Ramsey 15153NOWTHEN BOULEVARD N.W., RAMSEY, MINNESOTA 55303 PHONE (612) 427-1410 FAX (612) 427-5543 TDD (612) 427-8591 February 4, 1999 Mr. Clifford Korkowski Interim President Anoka-Hennepin Technical College 1355 West Highway # 10 Anoka, MN 5530%1590 RE: Location of New Technical College Facility Dear Mr. Korkowski: I had indicated to you in a letter dated November 18, 1998, that the City of Ramsey was in the process of developing an alternative site location proposal for the Minnesota State Colleges and University System (MnSCU) for a new Anoka-Hennepin Technical College (AHTC). Recent actions by the City have now brought about a more formal proposal for OVinSCU) considez'ation. The City of Ramsey had previously discussed concerns about the desirability to expand on the current AHTC site. Among the several issues that have caused concern, include, although not limited to; the lack of available room for future expansion, traffic safety issues surrounding T.H. #10/169, the non-existence of additional space for a rail station and park and ride, increased student costs due to ramp parking, limitations to parking, the inconvenience of phasing construction' and corresponding additional costs, costly condemnation of businesses immediately to the west of the current site. The City of Ramsey has placed a moratorium on a portion of the property immediately to the west and adjacent to the current technical college, however, recognizes that the moratorium could not be maintained throughout the MnSCU decision-making process. It should be noted that the City of Ramsey's moratorium does not encompass enough property to meet the technical college expansion needs. As an alternative site location to the AHTC's current site, the City of Ramsey would propose locating the new technical college on a site in south-central Ramsey, immediately north of T.H. #10/169, near the Ramsey Boulevard intersection, described as the east portion of Section 28 of the City of Ramsey. Benefits of the alternative site would include, although are not limited to; the technical college could be better planned with the greatest amount of flexibility and would include room for a commuter rail station, park and ride, multiple housing and commercial businesses, additional land would be available for future expansion needs, construction costs would be considerably less due to the proposed open space, proximity to future industrial growth, continuity of educational programs throughout construction, and opportunity to offer expanded high school instructional programs to support the high schools of Anoka and Elk River for up to 1,200 students with larger campus site.