Agenda - Planning Commission - 05/02/2013

Home

Observations/Alternatives: The site currently continues to operate as Fire Station #2. The site is approximately twenty (21) acres and is larger than current needs. The current building does not meet the current space needs of the Fire Department, and much of the building remains vacant while still needing to provide utilities to the vacant portion due to the building systems design. There are a number of outcomes associated with each land use concept. As previously stated, the preference from Open House participants was clearly the single-family concept. A more detailed analysis of the potential outcomes for each concept listed below is attached to this case as 'Data Center Letter'. A single-family development would be consistent with those parcels immediately adjacent to the site. This concept appeared to be well received by the Open House participants, as it was a similar used that they were accustomed to. Other outcomes of a single-family development are additional needs for public infrastructure (roads, utilities, etc.) and increased traffic. As with the case with any future development, the City would need to review these standards to ensure proper infrastructure was created to support the development. These items would need to be mitigated prior to development. In terms of a data center, the land use analysis is more detailed to review compatibility with surrounding land uses. Specific outcomes to the community could include access to additional employment, a higher use of the existing property, larger tax base, and a potential funding source for the replacement of Fire Station #2. Data Centers are becoming increasingly important as technology improves and needs for data storage increase. It is anticipated that there would be less public infrastructure needs (i.e. public roads) to service the area. Other outcomes could include aesthetic, noise, and pollution concerns. Many of these items could be potentially mitigated through an effective zoning ordinance A data center could currently locate in one of the City's existing employment districts. While not formally analyzed by Staff at this point, the City has been told that available employment district parcels are not conducive due to their proximity to the railroad tracks and their impact to the equipment (i.e. vibrations). In addition, available redundant electricity and fiber-optic cables (high speed data) are important factors. Finally, data centers need to be located in close proximity to an electrical substation. Comments were received from Open House attendees as well as written and verbal comments received outside of the Open House. In total, the City received twenty-six (26) comments. Of those that responded, twenty-three (23) preferred the residential concept (88%) and three (3) preferred the data center (12%). A detailed analysis is included in the attached Power Point. Staff received a petition in opposition of a data center development, and in support of a residential development, from surrounding property owners on April 26. Said petition included 69 signatures and has not been reviewed or analyzed by Staff due to the timing of the submittal. Staff will provide an update at the meeting. General common inquiries included, but were not limited to the use of the site as a school, park, or renovated Fire Station #2 in place. There were also multiple inquiries as to whether the data center could be sited elsewhere in the community. It should be noted that the Anoka -Hennepin School District does not currently have plans to develop the site as a school for the foreseeable future. The Parks and Recreation Commission has reviewed park needs for the area in the past, and has focused on safe pedestrian connections to other recreation areas in close proximity. The City continues to review future trail and safe pedestrian connection needs for the area. For those opposed to the data center concept, common comments included concerns with decrease in property value, presence and view of data center being undesirable, compatibility with the character of surrounding properties, noise, and long term risk/potential re -use of the site. For those accepting of a data center, common comments include traffic impacts for residential uses being undesirable as well as residential development reducing the privacy of surrounding property owners (hours of operation). The findings of the Open House will also be presented to the Economic Development Authority (EDA). This is tentatively scheduled for May 16, 2013. The findings and feedback from the Planning Commission and EDA is anticipated to be presented to the City Council at the end of May. As previously stated, there is no formal