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May 14, 2014 <br />Location: Pbrama >H:Drive >15153 >FindingsReport <br />DEVELOPMENT /PROCESS HISTORY <br />DATA CENTER OPPORTUNITY IDENTIFIED, Summer2012 <br />Subsequent to identifying the Subject Property as surplus City owned land in 2012, the City was <br />approached by Connexus Energy regarding a potential opportunity to develop the Subject Property for a <br />data center user. <br />Connexus indicated the Subject Property was the best data center site in Anoka County for the following <br />reasons: proximity to rail, proximity to river, proximity to major roadway, power capacity, power <br />redundancy, proximity to power substation, redundant fiber, water services, sewer services, proximity <br />to fire services, proximity to police services and size of available land. <br />PRELIMINARY CITY REVIEW, Fall 2012 <br />Upon learning of the opportunity presented by Connexus Energy, the City conducted a feasibility study <br />to further analyze the benefit of a potential data center development to the community. Said feasibility <br />report concluded a data center development would result in a substantial tax capacity opportunity for <br />the City of Ramsey. Additionally, in comparison to other business type uses, data centers are <br />abnormally low impact users to surrounding property owners and require a low level of City services. As <br />a result, the Ramsey Economic Development Authority (EDA), Planning Commission (PC) and City Council <br />indicated 'preliminary' interest in pursuing a data center development for the Subject Property. In <br />addition to the proposed data center development, all three boards also indicated interest in utilizing <br />the Subject Property for a residential development, if a data center development did not come to <br />fruition. <br />FIRST ROUND OF PUBLIC INPUT, Spring 2013 <br />With preliminary direction provided by the EDA, PC and City Council to further pursue a potential data <br />center development, attention was then shifted to concentrate on public input and feedback regarding <br />the preliminary proposal. <br />Before the City moved forward with pursuing a data center development and /or a residential <br />development, the Subject Property would need to be rezoned (currently zoned public /quasi - public). <br />Rezoning the Subject Property would entail a Comprehensive Plan Amendment and a Zoning <br />Amendment. According to State Statute, a public hearing is required when a Zoning Amendment <br />application is submitted. <br />In advance of submitting a Zoning Amendment Application, and conducting a required public input <br />process, as guided by State Statute, the City decided to proactively pursue public input related to a the <br />future development of the Subject Property. The purpose of said additional public input was to make <br />light of any potential issues a data center development would create for surrounding property owners, <br />before an actual data center user steped forward. The outcome of this proactive public input was to <br />resolve potential land use issues and put the City in position to confidently move forward with pursuing <br />a data center development and /or residential development. Lastly, said proactive measure was <br />intended to provide a future developer with public input information before a standard, State required, <br />public process took place. <br />OMCStudy Group, Findings Report (DRAFT) Page 5 of 42 <br />