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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – July 8, 2015 6 <br /> <br />Ramsey County Commissioner McDonough reported that the AUAR prescribed this number <br />and the transit piece was another factor. He provided further comment on how a strong work <br />force, increased density, and transit were interconnected. <br /> <br />Jim Ostlund, 1576 Royal Hills Drive, noted that he lived less than 1/3 of a mile away from <br />TCAAP. He supported the increased density as recommended by Ramsey County. He indicated <br />that he volunteered on ERAB and believed that additional density would improve the economics <br />of the TCAAP development. <br /> <br />Lyle Salmela, 1480 Arden Vista Court, believed the goal for TCAAP was to develop mixed land <br />uses that were sensitive to the natural environment, economically sustainable, and a benefit to the <br />community. He provided the Commission with a handout and suggested that building orientation <br />only apply to commercial buildings. He reviewed several language changes within the TRC that <br />addressed building orientation, building materials and encouraged energy efficiency. He <br />believed that water should be considered Open Space as it was an asset to the TCAAP site. <br /> <br />Mr. Salmela suggested that Chapter 12 of the Comprehensive Plan, which addresses <br />Environmental Conservation and Sustainability, should be updated as part of the Comprehensive <br />Plan Amendment. He explained he assisted in rewriting this Chapter in 2008. He believed that <br />TCAAP should be mentioned in Section 12.2 along with the ERIF. He provided further <br />comment on the LEED certified building variability proposed within TCAAP. It was his opinion <br />that Jackson Meadows was a great development for the City to style TCAAP after. It was his <br />hope to that TCAAP would have high quality architectural design. <br /> <br />There being no additional comment Vice Chair Hames closed the public hearing at 7:59 p.m. <br /> <br />Commissioner Bartel asked how many acres on TCAAP would be developed for residential <br />housing units. <br /> <br />Associate Planner Bachler stated that 151 acres were zoned for residential uses. <br /> <br />Commissioner Bartel indicated that with 1,431 proposed units on 151 acres this created a <br />density of approximately 9+ units per acre. He asked how this compared with the remainder of <br />Arden Hills. <br /> <br />Associate Planner Bachler reported that staff had looked at several neighborhoods in Arden <br />Hills and that the average gross density ranged from 1.75 to 3 units per acre. <br /> <br />Commissioner Bartel summarized that the proposed density on TCAAP was three times higher <br />than the density of all other Arden Hills neighborhoods. He inquired what research the City had <br />done to come up with the proposed 1,431 units. <br /> <br />Associate Planner Bachler explained that the City Council met with multi-family and single <br />family residential developers while drafting the TRC. He stated that the feedback from the <br />development community influenced the residential density ranges included in the TRC. <br /> <br />Commissioner Bartel questioned what the potential negative impact would be to increase the <br />density from 1,431 to 1,700 units. He asked why the Council had put a cap on the density.