02-09-15-R - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – JANUARY 5, 2015 2 Mayor Grant commented that the City would not be able to assess some of those goals, particularly the transit matter. However, he understood that transit would benefit TCAAP, the County, and the entire region. Councilmember McClung wanted to see transit brought to TCAAP as well, but he believed that the Metropolitan Council may have ownership of this issue. Ms. Worthington encouraged the Council to have the Master Plan be flexible enough to allow for enough density to support transit in the future, as the development continues to grow. Mayor Grant believed that the City should partner with its neighboring communities when addressing transit concerns. He anticipated that transit would hinge more on the number of jobs on TCAAP rather than the housing density. Ms. Worthington stated that she understood this point, but noted that the Met Council has a set of measurements to determine how and when to extend transit. She reported that some of these measurements will evaluate residential development. She believed that a case could be made to encourage the Met Council to consider the site beyond residential development numbers. Councilmember Holden questioned what the perceived “temporary impasse” was between the County and the City. Ms. Worthington stated that she appreciated this question and believed there was a communication breakdown between the County and the City Council. She wanted to be ensu red that the Council was receiving the all necessary information from the County. Mayor Grant thanked Commissioner Huffman for attending this evening and encouraged him to attend future Council meetings and work sessions. Mayor Grant directed the Council’s attention to the Energy Resilience Advisory Board’s (ERAB) zoning recommendations. Associate Planner Bachler reviewed the recommendations and requested comments from the Council. The Council agreed to add the word “Resilience” at the end of Section 1.1 of the TRC. Councilmember Holden questioned what the City would be asking developers to do by requiring “quality, adaptability, resiliency, efficiency, along with sustainability” in the Arden Hills housing stock. Associate Planner Bachler commented that the language would convey to the development community that when projects are brought forward, the Council wants to see them incorporate resiliency and efficiency into their designs. He believed that the language also conveyed the Council’s goals through the TRC.