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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – JANUARY 20, 2015 5 Mayor Grant commented that the Council was in general agreement to allow the County to proceed with the fit analysis. It was his opinion that the fit analysis would show that the businesses that move into the TCAAP site would determine the success of the retail and residential neighborhoods. County Commissioner Huffman encouraged the Council to not approve the TRC until the fit analysis was complete. Councilmember Holden discussed the large number of jobs that Arden Hills had already created. She questioned why transit was not already available in the City. County Commissioner Huffman recommended that transit be discussed at a future meeting. City Administrator Klaers stated that based on the discussion this evening, and the need for a fit analysis to be completed, he anticipated that the Council would not be approving the TRC until mid or late March at the earliest. This timeline would require the City to have the County start the fit test by the end of February. Mayor Grant believed that the County was comfortable with this delay in order to complete the fit analysis. TCAAP Land Use Approval Process Community Development Director Hutmacher explained that a draft land use approval process flow chart has been created and has been reviewed by the City and JDA Attorneys. JDA Attorney Norton reviewed a flow chart with the Council regarding the land use approval process for TCAAP. He provided additional comment on Chapter 3 of the TRC. Councilmember Woodburn questioned how long it would take applicants to move from the top to the bottom of the flow chart. JDA Attorney Norton anticipated that the approval process would take 60 to 90 days. Councilmember Woodburn was in favor of the process being shortened. Community Development Director Hutmacher asked whether the Council was supportive of staff drafting language that would allow greater flexibility within the parameters of the vision. The Council further discussed the City’s options and level of flexibility that should be provided within Chapter 3. Mayor Grant discussed how the number of units and some level of flexibility could improve the tax base for the City. He was in favor of developers having a higher level of flexibility within the code.