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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – February 4, 2015 22 <br /> <br />• The Town Center and retail areas have been reconfigured to allow for parcel shapes and <br />sizes that can be more easily developed. The Town Center retail area will be increased <br />slightly in size to better accommodate retail uses. This will decrease the Town Center <br />residential area by approximately 0.3 acres, which is not currently reflected on the draft <br />land use map or Table 1.0. <br />• The Town Center green space has been reshaped to allow a continuous green space from <br />the retail area through the Town Center. Diagonal parking in front of the retail areas along <br />the east/west connector would provide convenient parking for those businesses. <br />• A legend will be added to the next draft, which provides labels for each of the land use <br />categories. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Hutmacher stated at a meeting on January 20, 2015, <br />Ramsey County requested that the City delay its approval of the TRC and distribution of the <br />TCAAP Comprehensive Plan Amendment for adjacent city and Metropolitan Council review <br />until a “fit test” could be completed. The County’s stated purpose of the fit test is to: <br /> <br />• See how the neighborhoods meet the City’s and County’s shared vision; <br />• Offer the market a more complete view of the TRC; and <br />• Add financial perspective for the TRC and County marketing efforts through a market <br />study. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Hutmacher indicated the City Council agreed to postpone <br />its final approval of the TRC, but requested that the fit test not be initiated until the City Council <br />had tentatively approved the TRC. Work on the fit study is expected to take up to 60 days <br />following the City Council’s completion of work on the TRC. Ramsey County has offered to pay <br />for this study. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Hutmacher stated following presentation of the final draft <br />TRC to the City Council on February 2, 2015, the City Council and staff will be working to <br />schedule additional review meetings or workshops prior to the Council’s tentative approval of <br />the document. Once the schedule is better defined, a longer-term schedule for the fit test and final <br />approval will be compiled. Public hearings for the TRC and Comprehensive Plan Amendment <br />will be scheduled following the completion of the fit study. <br /> <br />D. Staff Comments <br /> <br />Chair Thompson reported that since the February 18th Special Planning Commission meeting <br />has been canceled and will be rescheduled at a later date, she requested the Commission <br />members to email staff with any comments or questions on the draft TRC. Planning <br />Commissioners are not to copy other members of the group with their comments. <br /> <br />ADJOURN <br /> <br />Commissioner Holewa moved, seconded by Commissioner Bartel, to adjourn the February <br />4, 2015, Planning Commission Meeting at 9:58 p.m. The motion carried unanimously (6-0).