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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 4 <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden asked how many square feet this type of unit would have. <br /> <br />Mr. Laberee explained that these units would be approximately 2,700-2,800 square feet. <br /> <br />Councilmember Werner inquired if this was single story or two story living. <br /> <br />Mr. Laberee reported that this was single story living, but that the units do have basements. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden questioned if alleys would be a good fit for TCAAP. <br /> <br />Mr. Laberee stated that he has not done alleys with this type of product anywhere locally. He <br />explained that alleys create very small yards and have extra construction costs with roadways on <br />both sides of the home. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Hutmacher discussed the current City Code proposed and <br />stated that lots narrower than 50 feet would need a rear loading garage. However, the product <br />referenced would be allowed to have a front loading garage. <br /> <br />Mr. Pratt reviewed an empty nest product type that he was building and noted that their resale <br />has been favorable. He stated that detached villas in the $400,000 price range were doing well. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden feared that this style of neighborhood would be similar to Woodbury <br />and she did not support these types of neighborhoods. She was concerned that homeowners in the <br />Hill neighborhood would be looking down on rooftops. <br /> <br />Ms. Kvilvang explained that the City could have several different builders creating different <br />styles of units to create variety. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung did not want to see numerous rows of beige houses either. <br /> <br />Mr. Laberee discussed the Mattamy Homes policies to create diverse housing styles. He <br />discussed the numerous color options available to homeowners that would assist in creating <br />variety. <br /> <br />Mr. Pratt urged the Council to encourage variety through both color and architecture. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant questioned the preferred densities in the Town, Hill and Creek neighborhoods. <br /> <br />Mr. Laberee anticipated that the Hill neighborhood (66 acres) would have three units per acre <br />and would be all single-family homes. He did not recommend multi-family for this neighborhood <br />given the topography. He explained that their bestselling lots were 65 foot wide with a 50 foot <br />building pad. This fits in with the 2.7 units per acre mark. <br /> <br />Mr. Pratt anticipated that the homes in this neighborhood would be customized to meet the needs <br />of the clientele. <br /> <br />Discussion shifted to parks and tot lots within the proposed neighborhoods.