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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – JANUARY 20, 2015 2 Discussion ensued regarding the correlation between transit and jobs as well as the importance of housing density and tax base. Councilmember Holden expressed concern about building too much office space as there was already a surplus in the area. Mr. Ruff commented that a corporate user would be a great option for TCAAP. Mayor Grant discussed the comments the Council received from Mattamy Homes at a previous work session. He questioned where the County’s concerns derived. County Commissioner Huffman stated that one concern for the TCAAP site was whether the market could support higher density housing in the Town Center. He indicated that with the City’s proposed housing numbers, the site was at risk of not meeting the County’s goals for jobs. He stated that the County would like to see a block-by-block fit analysis of TCAAP to better understand how many housing units would fit on the site. He recommended that the Council have Kimley-Horn reevaluate and ensure that the numbers are correct. He indicated that the County would fund this Kimley-Horn study. Councilmember McClung indicated that the Council has not been close to the 1,300 housing unit number that is shown in the chart on page 8 of the PowerPoint presentation. County Commissioner Huffman wanted to see the proposed housing unit numbers developed on the site more closely meet the County’s plan in order to ensure the area’s transit needs would be met. Mayor Grant stated that a fit analysis would delay the approval of the TRC and questioned if that would be acceptable to the County. County Commissioner Huffman understood that the TRC may be delayed but stated that the County would have much more market confidence if the fit analysis was completed. He reported that Mr. Ruff and Heather Worthington, Deputy County Manager for Ramsey County, were on board with this recommendation as well. He reiterated that it was much more important to get the TRC done right than having it done on a certain date. Councilmember McClung expressed concern that the County’s goals were too broad and had no numerical value attached. He was surprised that the County was just bringing these issues to the Council now. Councilmember Holden stated that since the beginning of this process, the County has been influencing the master planning with such input as the location of the spine road, etc. She questioned when the City’s needs would be considered. County Commissioner Huffman explained that the fit analysis would just provide the City and the County with some firm numbers. He did not want the TRC to become a lose-win situation. He understood that the City also had needs.