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SUMMARY OF TCAAP ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES  JULY 2013 <br />The following provides a summary of developer interviews held July 10-11, 2013; and the TCAAP Development <br />Panel and Stakeholder Engagement Workshop held July 30, 2013. <br />Developer Interviews <br />City of Arden Hills staff, Ramsey County staff, and consultants interviewed representatives from Opus, CSM Corp, <br />Lennar, and Ryan Companies. <br />Common themes/highlights: <br />The site is in a desirablelocation and the cleanup to residential standards is attractive. <br />This is a large site; development will need to be phased over a longer period of time (15-20 yrs). Market <br />cannot absorb it all at once. Break into manageable pieces. <br />Have patience to stick with the vision and don’t force solutions, but also be flexible. Create a solid <br />framework/vision, but don’t be too restrictive. <br />More flexibility = more opportunity, because the market will change, and the market drives development. <br />Developers are very cost-conscious and market-driven.They evaluatethe land cost per square foot <br />including costs for infrastructure and amenities. Too much green space or amenities can cause the land to <br />exceed the price point.Density maybe useful to help pay for amenities. <br />Get developer input into the Master Plan to ensure that the community isn’t overpromised a certain design <br />standard,level of amenities, or land use. <br />Access is key. Improvements to H will be very important. <br />Developers viewed the remediation of the property to a residential standard and the preservation of areas <br />north and east of the property for open space as a huge achievement for environmental sustainability. <br />Many sustainability features, particularly building and mechanical systems,are already built in without <br />specific LEED certification. Sometimes getting the plaque isn’t worth the extra investment. <br />Sustainability features can work if payback is within a reasonable period. Must be cost-effective and proven; <br />if not proven, customers won’t pay. Developers are not yet embracing net zero energy and on-site <br />generation. City and County may need to pay if they want these features. <br />The idea of a regional stormwater system makes sense. <br />There is a stigma in the community regarding contamination. The City and County will need to actively work <br />to dispel misinformation and alleviate concerns about the property. <br />The Master Plan should clearly articulate the opportunities and requirements for development so that <br />developersand private investors have certainty regarding what can be approved. The master planning <br />process can add significant value by overcoming political hurdles to development. <br />The City and County should reach out to the brokerage communitysince nearly every office and industrial <br />user is represented by a broker.Businesses, which are represented by a broker,should not be approached <br />directly to avoid alienating the brokerage community.Single-and multi-family brokers also have good <br />insight into consumer preferences. <br />Development Panel <br />Panel consisted of representatives from Duke Realty, Pulte Homes, United Properties, St. Paul Chamber of <br />Commerce, and Urban Land Institute/former Edina City Manager. <br />Common themes/highlights: <br />TCAAP is unique and attractive to develop because thesite is a clean slate for development, large in size, <br />and good location. <br />The needs of “Generation Y”should be considered in planning for development. They want walkability/trails, <br />transit, sustainable features, etc. <br />Amenities are important –green space adds value. <br />A mix of uses isappropriate for the site. <br />August 2013 <br />