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-3- In accepting these changes, the Council , as dial the Planning Commission, finds that : • 1 . The request for the change was precipitated by changing market conditions; 2. The information from the developers indicated there is a demographic market for rental property; 3. Requiring the developers to continue to be bound by the original P.U.D. Concept Development Plan would be burdensome and not in tune with today's market condi- tions, which could constitute a hardship for them; and 4. No member of the public, including the merchants from the adjacent shopping area, spoke against the changes during the December 2nd Planning Commission hearing, the Council consideration of the project, December 3rd, or to staff, prior to either meeting. Motion carried unanimously. As he read the Commission's motion recommending Council grant the variances necessary for META Operating Limited Partnership to proceed with their plans for remodeling and redeveloping the American Legion and gas station property adjacent to the Kenzington project, Commissioner Bjorklund suggested several changes in the wording of #2 pertaining to the expansion of non-conforming setback encroachment behind the gas station, which might better reflect the intent of the maker. These changes were accepted in the Council ' s motion of approval of the project. META's Vice President, Greg Gustafson, and the architect for the proposed project, • James R. Guttormson of Environmental Expressions, who had also attended the Com- mission hearing the previous evening, answered Council questions about their proposal . When Councilmember Makowske asked whether the Commission had taken any action related to the gas storage tanks, she had been told were still in the ground on the gas station property, Mr. Gustafson indicated his firm had made only a cursory inspection of the property they had acquired, but assured her that, if such tanks were in existence, they would be removed whether or not his firm was granted the variances for the project they had proposed. The developer also indicated META had only presumed that the walls of the existing Legion Club building could structurally support a third story, but, if the costs proved too prohibitive, a different decision might be necessary related to the development of that property. Mr. Gustafson discussed the drawings of th.e proposed project indicating the two buildings would be connected cosmetically with a roof architecturally similar to the Kenzington and a drive thru. He said the primary purpose for buying the two structures had been to clean up the area adjacent to the Kenzington and to provide ancillary and supportive services for the condominium project. No attempt had been made yet to find tenants for the new project, the developer indicated, but the first assumption had been that they might be professional offices because space would necessarily have to be quite expensive to offset META's costs of constructing a project as small as this one, which, Mr. Gustafson added, his firm would never have attempted if the property were not only 15 feet away from the Kenzington. Councilmember Ranallo commented, half in jest, that the City might even be able to use' the space. • Motion by Councilmember Ranallo and seconded by Councilmember Marks to grant the request from META Operating Limited Partnership, 7400 Metro Boulevard, Edina, for