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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—FEBRUARY 22, 2011 8 City Attorney Filla commented that there is a feeling in communities that their housing stock should be maintained. If the City's regulations aren't allowing that, he stated, changes need to be made. City Planner Beckman stated that there should be some type of process that allows for such things as front porch additions, expansions with clear restrictions, and detached front yard garages _ on lakeshore lots. — City Attorney Filla commented that lake front lots are good examples of lots with unique situations and the terminology should be different for those lots. Planning Commission Member Hames stated that if we want residents to stay in Arden Hills, we need to offer options. Planning Commission Member Reiff stated he would like to see some of these issues handled _ administratively rather than coming before the Planning Commission and Council. City Planner Beekman stated she would like to do further research on this topic and will come back to the Planning Commission and Council with examples. Councilmember Tamble questioned the negative impact of trying to come up with a laundry list of all possible scenarios. Community Development Director Hutmacher commented that we should allow older homes to be modernized; the kinds of things that nine times out of ten would be approved. Planning Commission Chair i arsor. commented that maintaining housing stock doesn't always mean enlarging or expanding but rather simply improving properties with new siding or windows. Planning Commission Member Scott stated he is in favor of sending out notices to neighbors for these types of issues. City Planner Beekman explained that notification is not required for variances. Planning Commission Member Scott stated that the concerns of the neighbors would be one piece of information that should be considered, specifically for lakefront lots. City Planner Beekman stated that if some of the improvements were allowed to be made through an administrative process, there would be no notification requirements. If there were, she questioned how neighbor opinions would impact Staff review. City Attorney Filla explained that the City cannot delegate its authority to neighbors, but what neighbors think could provide a basis for conditions. Community Development Director Hutmacher stated that if the ordinance is changed to allow certain improvements without a variance, notification would not be required.