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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – SEPTEMBER 8, 2014 2 <br /> <br />Mayor Grant questioned how the City would go about getting high quality, sustainable jobs on <br />TCAAP. <br /> <br />Todd Hanson, Cushman & Wakefield, stated this would be driven by the market and economics. <br />He believed that the TCAAP site is a unique blank slate, and it is like no other site in the metro <br />area. He hoped that it would appeal to precision manufacturing and medical, along with research <br />and development firms. <br /> <br />Mr. Carlson encouraged the City to differentiate itself from the competition through setbacks, <br />berming, landscaping, building design, trails and other amenities to attract high end corporations. <br /> <br />Mr. Hanson recommended that the flex and office space be merged together to offer greater <br />flexibility to future developers. It was his opinion that long-term health would require flexibility <br />and innovation, while allowing for growth. <br /> <br />Discussion ensued regarding spec development verses build to suit development, the height of <br />light industrial buildings, the quality of tip up panels, the size and scale of light industrial <br />properties, along with loading dock areas and potential screening options. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Hutmacher summarized the comments provided this <br />evening. <br /> <br />B. Grading and Spine Road Design Review <br /> <br />Public Works Director Maurer stated that the Kimley Horn Infrastructure Team was present to <br />discuss the grading plan and spine road portions of the TCAAP infrastructure project. He noted <br />that Jon Horn, Project Manager, and Tom Lincoln, Task Leader for Land Development, were <br />present to answer questions. <br /> <br />Jon Horn, Kimley-Horn, discussed the proposed design and location for the spine road in detail <br />with the Council. He described how utilities would be brought along each side of the spine road. <br />The alignment of the creek and surrounding drainage was also reviewed. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden questioned why the spine road location was being altered. <br /> <br />City Administrator Klaers stated that the original placement on the land use map was an <br />educated guess and that the consultants are now reevaluating the best alignment based on <br />available information on such site elements as the access point at H and the location of wetlands. <br /> <br />Public Works Director Maurer provided comment on how the new alignment would impact the <br />properties surrounding the spine road. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden suggested that the spine road be designed for 35 miles per hour traffic. <br /> <br />Public Works Director Mauer stated that the road would be engineered for 40 miles per hour <br />traffic but the posted speed would be determined by the State after a speed study. <br />