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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JUNE 15, 2015 7 City Administrator Klaers stated that it was staff's intent to only move forward and hold a Public Hearing with a Comprehensive Plan that the Council could support. Mayor Grant suggested that the Council offer up their comments regarding this matter. Councilmember Holden did not support the County purchasing this property or the price that was paid. She did not like the current plan for the property but believed it was a good compromise after years of work on the plan. She believed that the density was too high for Arden Hills, but understood that certain requirements had to be met. She understood that affordable housing was mandatory, but was uncertain as to how it should be regulated or what was fair. She commented that she could support the Comprehensive Plan at this time. Councilmember Woodburn believed that the TCAAP development was inconsistent with the rest of Arden Hills. He thought that Arden Hills was a great community to live in and noted that he was uncertain of his feelings regarding the Comprehensive Plan. He does not agree with social engineering. Councilmember McClung addressed Chapter 7 of the Comprehensive Plan. He reported that it was not his vision to limit where affordable housing could or could not be located on TCAAP. He wanted to see the City remain flexible on this topic going forward. He encouraged the Council to keep an open mind with broad visions as the City was uncertain of how developers would approach this site. He commented that he could support more density on this site. He was not thrilled with the framework of what was going on at TCAAP, but he was trying to make adjustments so that he could support the document. He did not support the Comprehensive Plan as presented at this time. Councilmember Holmes agreed with Councilmember McClung and believed that the TCAAP site would change and evolve as it develops. She was extremely concerned with the City more closely defining its goals and visions within the Comprehensive Plan. She did not want anyone in Arden Hills to think she would support pigeon holing affordable housing in only specific neighborhoods. Mayor Grant supported Councilmember Holden's comments and believed that the County paid too much for the property. He feels that the City has come a long way and that the project needs to move forward. There are things the City is being pushed on by the County, such as density, in order to meet certain targets. He provided comment on the proposed density for TCAAP along with land values for both the Hill and Creek neighborhoods. He understood that the Comprehensive Plan was an aspirational document. He did not want to go into the development allowing affordable housing everywhere. He has no guarantee from the County regarding the number of affordable units that they were interested in developing or the amount of financing they were pursuing. City Attorney Jamnik provided comment on the differences between the Zoning Ordinance and the Comprehensive Plan documents. He believed that the small lots within the Hill and Creek neighborhoods would have high enough land values that they would not become affordable units, without additional financing or grants. He advised that the Comprehensive Plan not indicate that the City is automatically saying no to affordable housing in the Hill and Creek neighborhoods.