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Iridav/Marcli 16/1995 The official student publication of Bethel College Volume 70, Number 11 Neighbors protest Bethel's decision: Bethel chooses to sell its MGolden Triangle'f By: HEIDI REMUS Editor Bethel's neighbors are hoping not to see the day when the northwest comer of County Road E2 and Old Highway 10 is no longer 6.5 acres of wetiand and open space, but an 18 unit townhouse development. Yet few remain hopeful that the day won't come. Bethel, the owner of the property, has agreed to sell the land to Developer Dan Ogren of Edina Realty in Shoreview. Mr. Ogren has proposed to build on this site 18 townhomes, estimating that each would range from $170,000 to $230,000 in price. The final decision will be made by die City Council of Arden Hills on Monday, March 27. The bill was met wilh its first approval on Wednesday, March I, when the Arden Hills Planning Commission voted 5-1 in favor of the project, despite protest from the community. The public hearing was called in order for the commission to consider amending the Land Use Plan of the City Comprehensive Plan from open space to low density residential use, a request made by the applicant, Mr. Ogren. Though many believed that the piece of property was part of the Ramsey County Open Space system, die site is currendy zoned R-1, which allows low density, single family residential development to exist. Many neighbors were outraged lhat Bethel did not make it known lo the community dial the piece of property was for sale, or that it was underdie consideration of being developed, until two weeks before die March 1 hearing was held. As a result, many neighbors who were opposed io tins action were left scrambling, trying to put together leaflets, write letters and phone Bethel about their concerns. On Tuesday, March 7, a second town meeting was called, this time held at Bethel. Citizens who were opposed to the development were invited to voice their concerns and to direct their questions to President George Brushaber, who was also present. Joyce Kloncz, a Valentine Hills science teacher, was one educator who expressed her concern about the loss of the land, citing the effect it will have on the children she teaches. "It's an area where we do camouflage simulations so that children can understand how animals are camouflaged lo protect themselves. We take seasonal nature hikes, we discover the science of watching nature move from season to season, and we obviously observe nature at its very best in all four seasons. Let's keep that for our children," she said. A second educator, Dr. Robert Mullin, a retired professor of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at theU of M, gave a slide presentation of the wetland, wildfiowers, and grasses, all taken inside the piece of property in question, or "the golden triangle," as Mullin called it. Moderator Mark Chapin said he would like B ethel to ask the de veloperto be allowed property in 1963, though Bethel never intended to market it, despite inquires made. The property has never figured in to Bediel's "Master Plan" he said. "We were forced two years ago when we had to make the decision, the major decision, to put up a building that was 4.5 times more cosdy than any building we ever did before, we had lo look at what our campus plan was more seriously." The Board of Regents determined two years ago that there was no "future use" for lhe property, therefore il was made available forsale, he said. Though Brushaber said he has never seen the plans for the townhouse development, he said it seemed in concept to be a more appropriate plan than previous offers made. He said the price offered was higher, and the density of people living on that property would be lower. Brushaber said "if we had been paying attention, if we had not presumed on a good relationship with the neighbors in Arden Hills, we probably would've stopped and said, 'What are folks going to think?' In all candor, in all honesty, we didn't think through those kinds of diings." Some neighbors talked about how they w alked their dogs through this area to escape the busy roads and traffic, many said how they allow their children to play in this wooded area because it's relatively safe, and one child shared a poem that she wrote about the land. One man said that the main reason why his son bought a house in this area was because of the piece of undeveloped land behind it. One neighbor, Jim Sommerfield, said he understood Continued on page 2 Map illustrates the land in question Affordable tuition is our mission i By: BARBARA SEWARD out of the agreement. Chapin said a new non-profitorganizationhasbeeii developed called The Neighbors of Valentine Lake, who would be willing to work wilh Beihel toward a solution. "We arc asking for lhe opportunity lo work wilh (he school in partnership lo maintain ihis land us open space .. . (o present some solutions to this problem." Chapin listed many avenues available to solve this problem: the acquisition of the property through the non- profit corporation (lo be later donated to Ramsey County), pursuing tax exemption for the property to evade taxes for the past and present years until a solution is reached, the start of fundraising efforts to repay the contractor for his losses, or, lease the land to neighbors for a 10-year period. President George Brushaber said he was "very surprised and unprepared for the negative reaction thatemerged." Brushaber emphasized the importance of "neighborliness" that he said Bethel has always shared with its neighbors, and how he would like that to continue, despite "whatever anguish is now being felt." He cited how Bethel bought the piece of Staff Writer On Wednesday, Feb. 8, the Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA) held a press conference in the state capitol building during their annual lobby day. The theme for the MSUSA lobby day was "Affordable Tuition is Our Mission." Over 60,000 students rallied at the slate capitol, representing Minnesota's seven universities. Going along with the theme of affordable tuition, two major concerns for students werediscusscd, along with possible solutions. The two concerns were maintaining affordable tuition rates and full funding of the Minnesota Higher Education Board's proposal. The full funding of the Education Board entails a request of $ 120 million to cover the costs of merging Minnesota state universities and the community and technical colleges into one whole called the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) on July 1. Students voiced dieir opinions and concerns to stale senators and representatives lhat were present. The major concern of merging Minnesota's universities with community and technical colleges is the |x>ssible increase in tuition. Currently cuts in budget spending could reduce a funding increase to 1.1 percent compared to the current allotment MnSCU receives. This would be a loss of approximately $9.1 million. As a result, tuition could increase as much as 20 percent in 1996 and 10 percent in 1997. Keeping in mind already high college tuition, the MSUSA students will return to the state capitol on March 15 to rally for affordable tuition rates and the full allotment of budget funding from the Minnesota Education Board. How will this affect Bethel? Currently, two- and four-year private colleges receive over half of the stale grant dollars allotted. A merger of Minnesota's universities and community and technical colleges could affect the future state grant money private colleges receive.
Object Description
Description
Title | Page 1 |
Alternative Title | The Bethel Clarion |
Edition (Vol. No.) | Vol. 70 No. 11 |
Date Published | March 16 1995 |
Decade | 1990 |
Academic Year | 1994 - 1995 |
Frequency | Biweekly |
Notes | This project has been financed in part with funds provided by the State of Minnesota through the Minnesota Historical Society from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. |
Digital Collection | The Clarion: Bethel University's Student Newspaper |
Digital Publisher | Bethel University |
Editor | Remus, Heidi |
Contributors | Martin, Barb (Administrative Advisor); Ashcroft, Mary Ellen (Academic Advisor); Heinsch, Heather (News Editor); Houser, Robin (Features Editor); Wilkins, Susan (Arts Editor); Jervis, Gretchen (Sports Editor); Lawson, Lara (Opinions Editor); Elgard, Angela M. (Photo Editor); Orvis, Renae (Layout and Graphic Arts Editor); Piehl, Kristi (Layout and Graphic Arts Editor); Nitz, Joe (Copy Editor); Kennedy, Rebecca (Ads and Business Manager) |
Location |
United States Minnesota Saint Paul |
Time Span of Publication | Newspaper published from 1921 through present day |
Copyright | Reproduction or distribution of these files is permitted for educational and research purposes with proper attribution to the Bethel Digital Library. No commercial reproduction or distribution of these files is permitted under copyright law without the written permission of Bethel University Digital Library. For questions or further information on this collection, contact digital-library@bethel.edu. |
Type | text |
Format | image/jpeg |
Physical Dimensions | 11.5 x 17 |
Original Collection | Printed paper copies of original newspaper in the collections of the Bethel University Library and the History Center: Archives of the Baptist General Conference and Bethel University. |
Original Publisher | Bethel College |
Transcript | Iridav/Marcli 16/1995 The official student publication of Bethel College Volume 70, Number 11 Neighbors protest Bethel's decision: Bethel chooses to sell its MGolden Triangle'f By: HEIDI REMUS Editor Bethel's neighbors are hoping not to see the day when the northwest comer of County Road E2 and Old Highway 10 is no longer 6.5 acres of wetiand and open space, but an 18 unit townhouse development. Yet few remain hopeful that the day won't come. Bethel, the owner of the property, has agreed to sell the land to Developer Dan Ogren of Edina Realty in Shoreview. Mr. Ogren has proposed to build on this site 18 townhomes, estimating that each would range from $170,000 to $230,000 in price. The final decision will be made by die City Council of Arden Hills on Monday, March 27. The bill was met wilh its first approval on Wednesday, March I, when the Arden Hills Planning Commission voted 5-1 in favor of the project, despite protest from the community. The public hearing was called in order for the commission to consider amending the Land Use Plan of the City Comprehensive Plan from open space to low density residential use, a request made by the applicant, Mr. Ogren. Though many believed that the piece of property was part of the Ramsey County Open Space system, die site is currendy zoned R-1, which allows low density, single family residential development to exist. Many neighbors were outraged lhat Bethel did not make it known lo the community dial the piece of property was for sale, or that it was underdie consideration of being developed, until two weeks before die March 1 hearing was held. As a result, many neighbors who were opposed io tins action were left scrambling, trying to put together leaflets, write letters and phone Bethel about their concerns. On Tuesday, March 7, a second town meeting was called, this time held at Bethel. Citizens who were opposed to the development were invited to voice their concerns and to direct their questions to President George Brushaber, who was also present. Joyce Kloncz, a Valentine Hills science teacher, was one educator who expressed her concern about the loss of the land, citing the effect it will have on the children she teaches. "It's an area where we do camouflage simulations so that children can understand how animals are camouflaged lo protect themselves. We take seasonal nature hikes, we discover the science of watching nature move from season to season, and we obviously observe nature at its very best in all four seasons. Let's keep that for our children," she said. A second educator, Dr. Robert Mullin, a retired professor of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at theU of M, gave a slide presentation of the wetland, wildfiowers, and grasses, all taken inside the piece of property in question, or "the golden triangle," as Mullin called it. Moderator Mark Chapin said he would like B ethel to ask the de veloperto be allowed property in 1963, though Bethel never intended to market it, despite inquires made. The property has never figured in to Bediel's "Master Plan" he said. "We were forced two years ago when we had to make the decision, the major decision, to put up a building that was 4.5 times more cosdy than any building we ever did before, we had lo look at what our campus plan was more seriously." The Board of Regents determined two years ago that there was no "future use" for lhe property, therefore il was made available forsale, he said. Though Brushaber said he has never seen the plans for the townhouse development, he said it seemed in concept to be a more appropriate plan than previous offers made. He said the price offered was higher, and the density of people living on that property would be lower. Brushaber said "if we had been paying attention, if we had not presumed on a good relationship with the neighbors in Arden Hills, we probably would've stopped and said, 'What are folks going to think?' In all candor, in all honesty, we didn't think through those kinds of diings." Some neighbors talked about how they w alked their dogs through this area to escape the busy roads and traffic, many said how they allow their children to play in this wooded area because it's relatively safe, and one child shared a poem that she wrote about the land. One man said that the main reason why his son bought a house in this area was because of the piece of undeveloped land behind it. One neighbor, Jim Sommerfield, said he understood Continued on page 2 Map illustrates the land in question Affordable tuition is our mission i By: BARBARA SEWARD out of the agreement. Chapin said a new non-profitorganizationhasbeeii developed called The Neighbors of Valentine Lake, who would be willing to work wilh Beihel toward a solution. "We arc asking for lhe opportunity lo work wilh (he school in partnership lo maintain ihis land us open space .. . (o present some solutions to this problem." Chapin listed many avenues available to solve this problem: the acquisition of the property through the non- profit corporation (lo be later donated to Ramsey County), pursuing tax exemption for the property to evade taxes for the past and present years until a solution is reached, the start of fundraising efforts to repay the contractor for his losses, or, lease the land to neighbors for a 10-year period. President George Brushaber said he was "very surprised and unprepared for the negative reaction thatemerged." Brushaber emphasized the importance of "neighborliness" that he said Bethel has always shared with its neighbors, and how he would like that to continue, despite "whatever anguish is now being felt." He cited how Bethel bought the piece of Staff Writer On Wednesday, Feb. 8, the Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA) held a press conference in the state capitol building during their annual lobby day. The theme for the MSUSA lobby day was "Affordable Tuition is Our Mission." Over 60,000 students rallied at the slate capitol, representing Minnesota's seven universities. Going along with the theme of affordable tuition, two major concerns for students werediscusscd, along with possible solutions. The two concerns were maintaining affordable tuition rates and full funding of the Minnesota Higher Education Board's proposal. The full funding of the Education Board entails a request of $ 120 million to cover the costs of merging Minnesota state universities and the community and technical colleges into one whole called the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) on July 1. Students voiced dieir opinions and concerns to stale senators and representatives lhat were present. The major concern of merging Minnesota's universities with community and technical colleges is the |x>ssible increase in tuition. Currently cuts in budget spending could reduce a funding increase to 1.1 percent compared to the current allotment MnSCU receives. This would be a loss of approximately $9.1 million. As a result, tuition could increase as much as 20 percent in 1996 and 10 percent in 1997. Keeping in mind already high college tuition, the MSUSA students will return to the state capitol on March 15 to rally for affordable tuition rates and the full allotment of budget funding from the Minnesota Education Board. How will this affect Bethel? Currently, two- and four-year private colleges receive over half of the stale grant dollars allotted. A merger of Minnesota's universities and community and technical colleges could affect the future state grant money private colleges receive. |
Language | English |
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