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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – DECEMBER 15, 2014 5 <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden did not support the use of residential units above retail. She was not in <br />favor of having residential in an office building either. She suggested that multi-family residential <br />remain separate from the office zoning district. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung was willing to support residential in the office zoning district. He <br />was willing to take what the market would support. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant believed that commercial should remain commercial alone and should not have <br />residential units interspersed. In the same way, he wanted to see residential areas remain just that <br />and not be mixed vertically with retail or office. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden commented that the original design of TCAAP was created to keep <br />residential areas separated from the industrial and office uses. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Hutmacher inquired if the Council would support mixed <br />use between office and retail. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden and Mayor Grant supported this suggestion. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden reviewed the previous Ryan Companies plan from 2008 and reported <br />that the plan called for 1,481.9 housing units on TCAAP. She was pleased that the new plans for <br />TCAAP were suggesting roughly the same number of units. Her only concern with TCAAP was <br />how the neighborhood transition areas would develop. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant expressed concern with the Town Center and wanted to see this area be a high <br />quality development with sustainability and amenities. <br /> <br />The Council further discussed the type and quality of building materials for Town Center, along <br />with how Town Center may be impacted by a spine road realignment. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden questioned how many acres were included in Town Center and the area <br />above the park. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Hutmacher noted that the Town Center was 15 acres in <br />size. She discussed how the zoning parcels around the Town Center may still be shifted if the <br />spine road is realigned. <br /> <br />City Administrator Klaers discussed how the Town Center would be impacted if the spine road <br />was realigned. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant asked if the Council supported the proposed densities on the Town Center acreage, <br />at or around 600 units. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden believed that 600 units would look and feel different if half of the units <br />were for seniors. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes questioned if the Council could set a maximum density level for the <br />Town Center.