Agenda - Council Work Session - 05/20/2014

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May 14, 2014 Location: Pbrama >H:Drive >15153 >FindingsReport In March, 2013 the City notified 250 surrounding property owners of the proposed data center development. Said property owners were invited to attend a public open house in April 2013. Below is a summary of input received: Public comments were received from open house attendees; as well as non - attendees. In total, the City received twenty -six (26) public comments. Of those, twenty -four (24) opposed a data center development and two (2) were in favor of a data center development. Staff received an uncertified public petition in opposition of a data center development, and in support of a residential development, from surrounding property owners, on April 26, 2013. Said petition included sixty -nine (69) signatures. Click here to view. General public inquiries included, but were not limited to, the use of the Subject Property as a school, park, or renovated Fire Station #2; and, inquiries as to whether a data center could be sited elsewhere in the community. Public comments in opposition of a data center included: concerns with decreased property values, presence and view of data center being undesirable, compatibility with the character of surrounding properties, noise, long term risk /potential re -use of the Subject Property, traffic and spot zoning. For those in favor of a data center development, common public comments included concern with the high traffic impact of a residential development; as well as, concerns that a residential development would reduce the privacy of surrounding property owners (considering low impact and hours of operation for a data center). General FAQs: See Appendix or Click Here Subject Property Reference Map: See Appendix or Click Here Development Comparison Chart: See Appendix or Click Here SECOND ROUND OF PUBLIC INPUT, Summer 2013 In response to the first round of public input outlined above, the City revised and adjusted data center site concept maps in an attempt to mitigate public concerns. In June 2013, the Ramsey EDA, PC and City Council reviewed said revised data center site concept maps. In July of 2013 the City Council directed Staff to facilitate a second public input process. The purpose of this second public input process was: to better understand under what circumstances would a data center development be an acceptable use for the Subject Property. The key outcome of this second public input process is a proposal for Council consideration; which will include (1) further documentation/ information addressing specific concerns (2) mitigation proposals addressing specific concerns (3) updated site concept maps. This information was to be used by the City Council before making a final decision to submit a Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Amendment application to allow for a potential data center development. For detailed information on the OMCStudy Group process, see next section. OMCStudy Group, Findings Report (DRAFT) Page 6 of 42