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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – March 5, 2014 8 Commissioner Holewa reviewed the average unit sizes for Arden Hills and the surrounding communities. He recommended that Arden Hills’ minimum unit size standards remain as they are currently written and 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 to be larger than some available single-family homes. She believed the minimum standards should not be revised at this time. Commissioner Holewa asked if the City had minimum size standards for single-family homes. City Planner Streff stated that single-family homes are required to meet all State building codes regarding minimum size standards and that the City Ordinances do call out minimum standards for single-family homes. Councilmember Jones explained that he lived in a 1950’s rambler and that it was approximately 1,040 square feet in size. He did not believe that the multi-family dwelling unit sizes needed to be amended. Commissioner Bartel requested comment from Councilmember Holmes on this matter. Councilmember Holmes stated that the Council believed that the minimum standards for efficiency units needed to be updated. The topic was first brought to the forefront during the City’s review of the E Street Flats development project. A discussion was held by the Council on the multi-family dwelling unit size standards and an amendment to the Zoning Code was proposed. She explained that the Council wanted to have the standards reviewed prior to redevelopment of the TCAAP site. Commissioner Hames stated that housing trends ebb and flow and she did not want to see the City have such high minimum standards established that would require developers to request variances in the future. Vice Chair Thompson agreed with the proposed revised standards for efficiency units. However, she did not support changing all of the multi-family design standards. She did not believe that regulating the size of units would ensure a certain quality of units. She recommended that the unit size be determined by market demand rather than by the City setting specific minimums. Commissioner Bartel asked if this Ordinance would apply to apartments and condos. Associate Planner Bachler explained that the standards would apply to condominium and apartment units. Commissioner Holewa supported the 550 square foot minimum for efficiency units. Commissioner Hames recommended the denial of the Ordinance and requested that staff redraft the language based on the Planning Commission’s discussion.