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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 3 <br /> • Receive Infrastructure Feasibility Report(Infrastructure Team) <br /> Staff anticipated that additional regular and special work sessions will be scheduled to discuss <br /> TCAAP issues. Future meeting topics will be defined as those dates draw nearer. <br /> Community Development Director Hutmacher stated that City staff, County staff, and financial <br /> consultants have met with residential developers to get feedback on land values, absorption rates, <br /> desired amenities, lot sizes, and other issues. Len Pratt, Pratt Homes, and Daren Laberee and Rick <br /> Packer, Mattamy Homes, are present to share their experiences in residential building. <br /> Stacie Kvilvang, Ehlers & Associates, reviewed with the Council the For-Sale Developer <br /> feedback that she has received to date. She provided the Council with a number of visuals to <br /> provide greater perspective on the proposed lot size and style of homes that could be built within <br /> the TCAAP neighborhoods. She explained that people buy communities and not homes. In <br /> addition, retail amenities are important. <br /> Len Pratt, Pratt Homes, recommended that each of the neighborhoods have two entrances. He <br /> stated that the entrances to neighborhoods are very important and should be welcoming. He <br /> believed that the Highway 96 entrance was critical to the adjacent neighborhoods as it would hold <br /> higher-end housing. He did not recommend putting retail in this area unless it was really well <br /> done. He believed that offices and businesses would be a better fit along Highway 10. <br /> Discussion ensued regarding the vapor issue and where residential homes could or could not be <br /> built on TCAAP. <br /> Daren Laberee, Mattamy Homes, agreed with Mr. Pratt and stated that homeowners would not <br /> want to drive through an industrial or a business/office park to reach their house. If the land use is <br /> not residential, then high quality street landscaping is needed. The "driving experience" has to be <br /> pleasant. A monument sign would help welcome people into the area. <br /> Councilmember McClung hoped that the Gateway Overlay District would provide a nice <br /> entrance to TCAAP. <br /> Mr. Pratt suggested that this Gateway Overlay District be extended all the way to the adjacent <br /> neighborhood. <br /> Councilmember Holden commented that another option may be to flow from higher density <br /> residential to the lower-density residential neighborhood. <br /> Mayor Grant requested further comment on the unique types of housing styles that the builders <br /> could see on the TCAAP site. <br /> Rick Packer, Mattamy Homes, stated that there is a need for higher end, small footprint condos <br /> or townhomes for empty nesters who spend their winters somewhere other than in Minnesota. <br /> These units are called detached multi-family and can be built on a 50 foot lot. These units would <br /> be maintained by an association and come with a higher price point. <br />