Laserfiche WebLink
ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – JULY 13, 2015 6 <br /> <br />the TCAAP redevelopment site. He reviewed in detail the actions that were being requested of <br />the Council this evening. <br /> <br />Mike Lamb, Kimley Horn, discussed the history of the TCAAP Master Plan and Redevelopment <br />Code. He explained that this process has been underway for the past three years. He indicated <br />that the AUAR and Master Land Use Plan were completed and approved by the City Council in <br />2014. He reported that throughout the planning process, the City has been taking comments from <br />the public and one consistent comment has been the importance of unique, defined neighborhoods <br />that have access to parks and trails. Residents are also interested in seeing walkability, convenient <br />retail and entertainment, along with a mix of housing products. <br /> <br />Mr. Lamb provided comment on the discussions held with developers. There was support for the <br />three proposed neighborhoods as this would provide for a variety of housing styles, types and <br />price ranges. Developers also stressed the importance of amenities for both residential and office <br />developments. He noted that retail was becoming experience-based. He understood that securing <br />high-quality jobs would take time. <br /> <br />Mr. Lamb reported that the Planning Commission has been involved in the planning process by <br />reviewing both the TRC and chapters of the CPA. Energy efficiency and sustainability were <br />concerns for this group and this has been reflected in the code. He then reviewed the comments <br />received from the PTRC. He indicated that comments received from the County included <br />developing over 50% of the site for commercial/Flex Office uses with the primary location for this <br />just west of the Spine Road and locating City parks away from high-value commercial areas. <br /> <br />Associate Planner Bachler explained the TRC further with the Council along with the regulating <br />plan. He discussed the amount of space that would be set aside for commercial, industrial, and <br />residential uses. He provided comment on the development goals for the Creek, Hill, and Town <br />Center neighborhoods as well as providing the vision for the retail, commercial, and industrial <br />components. He reported that it was the City’s goal to have TCAAP remain pedestrian-friendly <br />in both scale and design. He reviewed the proposed landscaping and open space requirements. <br />He noted that there were several provisions within the Code that addressed energy efficiency and <br />sustainability and were based on recommendations made by the Energy Resiliency Advisory <br />Board. <br /> <br />City Planner Streff commented that the Arden Hills 2030 Comprehensive Plan was officially <br />approved in September 2009. While the Plan was being prepared, the City was also engaged in a <br />community planning process to better define how the surplus land on the TCAAP property should <br />be redeveloped. Since a final plan was not approved at the time the Comprehensive Plan was <br />adopted, the Plan only included an overall vision for the redevelopment and preliminary elements <br />of the potential reuse plan. The intent was for the City to amend the Comprehensive Plan once a <br />final TCAAP redevelopment plan was approved so that any required data, such as future land use <br />designations, housing densities, transportation infrastructure, and parks and open space resources, <br />could be included in the Comprehensive Plan. <br /> <br />City Planner Streff explained that as part of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment, a change in <br />land use designation from Mixed Business and Mixed Residential to Neighborhood Residential, <br />Neighborhood Transition, Town Center, Campus Commercial, Retail Mixed-Use, Office Mixed-