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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION –March 5,20143 4.The proposed amendment advances the City’s implementation strategies identified in the Housing Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan by establishing design guidelines for new multi-family dwelling units. City Planner Streff stated that staff recommends approvalof Ordinance Number 14-003 in Planning Case 14-009 for an amendment to Section 1325.045, Subd. 1 –Multi-family Dwelling Units Additional Conditional Use Permit Criteria of the Zoning Code in order to revise the minimum unit size standards for multi-family dwelling units, as presented in the March 5, 2014, Report to the Planning Commission. City Planner Streff reviewed the options available to the Planning Commission on this matter: 1.Recommend Approval as Presented. 2.Recommend Approval with Changes. 3.Recommend Denial 4.Table Commissioner Hames asked why Shoreview and Roseville’s multi-family dwelling unit size standardswere not considered by staff. Associate Planner Bachler commented that staff did notfind multi-family minimum unit size standards forthese cities. He statedthatstaff triedto limit their study to cities in the northeast metro. Vice Chair Thompson opened the public hearing at 7:30p.m. Vice Chair Thompson invited anyone for or against the application to come forward and make comment. Vice Chair Thompson There being no comment closed the public hearing at 7:31p.m. Vice Chair Thompson openedthe floor to Commissioner comments. Commissioner Hames questioned why the City was reviewing this Ordinance. Associate Planner Bachler stated that in January2013, staff was directed by the Council to review the multi-family unit dwelling sizes, in particular the square footage standards for three bedroom units. Information was gathered from surrounding communities and was presented to the City Councilin January 2014. After discussion at the Council level, staff was directed to draft an ordinance that wouldamend the multi-family design standards. He commented that the proposed amendment was not in response to any proposed development or particular request. Commissioner Holewa reviewed the average unit sizes for Arden Hills and the surrounding communities. He recommended that Arden Hills’ minimum unitsizestandards remain as they are currently writtenand that the market drive apartment sizes and not the City Ordinance. Commissioner Hames agreed and discussed the size of several three-bedroom homes on the market in Arden Hills. She questioned why the City wanted to require three-bedroom apartments