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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – DECEMBER 1, 2014 5 <br /> <br />Mayor Grant asked if the Town Center area could be flipped to be adjacent to the new retail and <br />run along the Spine road. He stated that it may be appealing to drive in and view retail on both <br />sides of the Spine road. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden commented that this would take away the opportunity to have <br />residential properties right on the water feature. She questioned if the 20-acre parcel would be <br />large enough to meet the needs of the corporate user. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant believed that a future developer would make this work. He stated that the City <br />could make the new road realignment of the spine road work. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes wanted to see that commercial developments on TCAAP be successful <br />and for this reason, she believed the realignment was necessary. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung indicated that any large retail developer that comes to the site will <br />want at least 20 acres contiguous, especially if adjacent to a high quality corporate campus. He <br />supported the realignment of the spine road. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden did not support the realignment. <br /> <br />Councilmember Werner suggested that there be some level of flexibility in the spine road. <br /> <br />Mr. Horn reviewed the proposed access road into the thumb. It was noted that this roadway <br />would be two lanes based on the current alignment. <br /> <br />Public Works Director Maurer discussed the expense and jurisdiction of the thumb road. He <br />commented that it was his position that this would be a County road. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant believed that the driving force behind construction of the thumb road was financial. <br /> <br />Further discussion ensued regarding the thumb road design and the timing of construction. <br /> <br />Tom Harrington, Kimley Horn, explained he was a landscape architect. He provided comment <br />on the grading and landscape plans for the TCAAP site in further detail. He discussed the look, <br />feel, and character of how the TCAAP roadways could be designed, along with the gateway <br />entrances. He recommended that the Council consider having something distinctive and strong at <br />the gateway entrances and roundabout. He recommended that the crossings over water be <br />highlighted. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung questioned how far apart the light poles would be spaced. <br /> <br />Mr. Harrington estimated that the lighting would be spaced somewhere between 100 and 150 <br />feet apart. He reported that the main issue would be safety for pedestrian and vehicle traffic. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes asked if the proposed landscaping plan fit with the proposed Zoning <br />Code. She feared that the proposed TCAAP Redevelopment Code (TRC) was too specific.