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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL MARCH 31, 20149 <br /> <br /> <br />3.Variances from the ordinance could be requested and therefore the <br />City would be able to negotiate a safe building during the planning <br />phase. <br /> <br />4.The development community has not spoken against the Ordinance. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant <br /> <br />recommendation. <br /> <br />City Planner Streff <br />rev <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung <br /> asked if the Planning Commission felt the proposed ordinance was <br />too restrictive. <br /> <br />City Planner Streff <br /> believed that the Planning Commission saw the proposed ordinance as being <br />more restrictive than was necessary. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes <br /> reported that the Planning Commission was in favor of decreasing the <br />efficiency unit size to somewhere between 450 and 550 square feet. However, they did not <br />support any of the proposed increases to the minimum unit size standards. The Planning <br />Commission commented that there were houses in Arden Hills that were 1,200 square feet in size <br />and they did not feel it was necessary for three-bedroom apartment units to be 1,200 square feet. <br />The Planning Commission was in favor of letting the market, rather than City Code, decide the <br />unit sizes. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung <br /> questioned if the City should have a policy in place requiring larger <br />apartment units without an ordinance in place. <br /> <br />City Planner Streff <br /> explained that new developments coming before the City would most likely <br /> This would allow for some flexibility with the unit sizes. <br /> <br />Councilmember Werner <br />commented that the Planning Commission voted 5-0 to deny the <br />proposed ordinance and he supported their recommendation. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden <br />stated that the Council reviewed this ordinance on several occasions and <br />she believed that unit standards are a policy decision of the City. She explained that developers <br />could always request smaller units through a PUD. She supported the ordinance and wanted to <br />see minimum standards put in place. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant <br /> indicated that Arden Village developed according to the current minimum <br />standards. He wanted the Council to keep in mind that these standards would be reviewed <br />throughout the redevelopment of TCAAP. He appreciated the work completed by the Planning <br />Commission but noted that he was in favor of establishing multi-family design standards as <br />previously discussed by the City Council. He reported that future developers could always request <br />a variance from the proposed standards. <br />size standards. <br /> <br />