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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – MARCH 30, 2015 2 Mr. Lamb provided further comment on how the two options would work together subjectively to assist the County and City in planning for Rice Creek Commons. He reported that the Fit Test was focused on market potential, economic development, job growth, and environmental stewardship. These factors were the driving factors for the County. He discussed development prospects within the metro area. He reviewed the proposed lot sizes for residential neighborhoods. He summarized housing trends and family sizes and how this would impact the housing market. Mr. Lamb stated that after reviewing his Fit Test Option 1 findings, he believed that the Creek Neighborhood could yield 111 total units on the 41 acres, which would be roughly 2.7 units per acre. He stated the Hill Neighborhood would have 29 NB1 lots, 80 NB2 lots and 85 NB3 lots with 29 twinhomes, which would yield 223 total units. He noted that the park in the Hill Neighborhood has been shifted slightly to allow for lots to be fronted along the park. Mr. Lamb discussed the Town Neighborhood. Option 1 included 680 multi-family and row house units in the Town Center District. An additional 304 attached and detached townhomes were shown in the Neighborhood Transition 1 and 2 Districts. The retail mixed use area included 40,000 square feet of retail. The total number of units proposed for the entire Rice Creek Commons development in Option 1 was 1318. Councilmember Holmes asked for clarification on the housing numbers. Mr. Lamb reviewed his Fit Test findings in further detail with the Council. Mayor Grant clarified that this was one scenario that was being presented but that it was not necessarily the scenario that would be chosen. Mr. Lamb stated that this was the case noting that he was trying to provide an option that would provide the highest yield. Councilmember McClung asked if the proposed row houses would serve as a buffer next to the multi-family housing. Mr. Lamb indicated that the row houses would serve as a buffer. Mayor Grant was concerned that the Fit Test did not include property tax values, given the fact that this was a concern to the County. Councilmember McClung requested that phase two of the Fit Test include this information. Mayor Grant questioned how the City and County would reach a final design plan. Mr. Lamb believed that the marketplace would determine the final design and that the Fit Test would provide information regarding how many units could fit on the site. Mayor Grant inquired how rents impact property values.