08-09-2018 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION AUGUST 9, 2018 explained that they have no problems at their Vadnais Heights location with 315 students with less parking available and only one entrance. Johnson asked if they have experience with no fencing for the play area. Ms. Meyer stated that they have not had any K-41h_grade children so far. She reported they do not plan to put a fence up until they have figured out the best traffic flow on the site, and then they will install a permanent play area. Buesing asked if they planned to put a fence behind their building to designate the school property from the homes. Ms. Meyer stated that they would be willing to do that. Schwalbach asked if their plan is to store buses on this site. Ms. Meyer stated the goal would be to store five buses at this location in order to save the rental money,. but they would prefer to be able to keep at least a couple of buses on site at all times in case of an emergency during the day. Marcel Zoch, 2945 Condit Street, stated that the biggest problem is that only a couple of cars can get through the light at Little Canada Road and Country Drive. Ms. Meyer stated that there were over 200 people working in this building when it was being used as an office, so there was always traffic coining from this site. Mr. Zoch stated that his property values will go down with a school there. John Grant, 2901 Condit Street, which is right across the street from this building. He agrees that there should be some balance between the neighborhood and the property owner's right to develop the property. He questioned why the buses would be stored on the west side of the building since that is facing his front window. He is concerned what time the buses would be started in the mornings. He feels this is too big of a step from an office building to a 300 student school, and a school should not be shoved into a residential neighborhood. He stated that when the property was developed 17 years ago, there was never a plan to jam a grade school there. He noted that his house would now be in a federal school zone. Roger Seeger, 266 Twin Lake Trail, stated that he is a bus driver for AFSA and he has met some of the best kids who attend the school and feels they would fit well into the neighborhood. He stated that they could store the buses somewhere else if needed. Teresa Munson, 2691 Barclay Street, Maplewood, school board treasurer and a parent representative, stated that the AFSA middle school is now in a church right down the street from her house, and the school has made the church property look better and are giving back to the community. She noted that not all of the kids would be outside at the same time. She hopes that the benefits of this school can be seen. -3-