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• Planning Commission 2/27/07 Workshop ITEM: Potential Construction of a Fraternity House on UM Falcon Heights Campus SUBMITTED BY: Deborah Jones, Planning and Zoning Coordinator REVIEWED BY: Justin Miller, City Administrator EXPLANATION: Summary: The City has been approached by the University of Minnesota chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho, a national fraternity for agriculture student, with a proposal to build a new fraternity house on the Falcon Heights campus at the southeast corner of Cleveland Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue. As a private use of land leased from the University, this site would be under City jurisdiction and zoning. At present, the city code makes no provision for this kind of use in any zone. The Planning Commission needs to consider this proposal in terms of the City's Comprehensive Plan and determine what actions, if any, to take. Background: Alpha Gamma Rho, a national fraternity for students of agriculture, now occupies a house at 2060 Carter Avenue, on the corner of Cleveland and Carter in St. Paul, just across the street from the main quad of the campus. The fraternity has owned the property since 1914 and added to the structure several times. They are in search of a larger site, and the University's plans include providing space for Greek organization housing on campus, both in Falcon Heights and Minneapolis. The site proposed for the new fraternity house is at the southeast corner of Cleveland and Commonwealth, just north of the Commonwealth Terrace Cooperative student housing. It is across the street from residences on the St. Paul side of Cleveland, but several blocks from the nearest Falcon Heights residential neighborhood, University Grove. The site is now occupied by two older houses, previously used as boarding houses and offices, which would be demolished for the project. The project would come under the City's zoning jurisdiction because the land would be leased for use by a private entity, similar to the leaseholds held by residents of the University Grove neighborhood. Falcon Heights does not at this time have any provision for fraternity or sorority houses in its zoning code. This use is not defined in our code, and no similar use is allowed in any zone at this time. If it is determined that this is a use that should be allowed in the City of Falcon Heights, changes to the city code will be required. Additional zoning action may also be required, such as rezoning and amendment of the comprehensive plan. Issues for discussion: • • If we are willing to allow this use, where and under what circumstances? Planning Commission Workshop: 2/27/07 Page 1 of 2