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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – SEPTEMBER 21, 2015 5 <br /> <br />Community Development Director Hutmacher discussed the site opportunities and challenges <br />and provided comment on the market feedback. She requested comment from the Council on the <br />following questions. <br /> <br />1. Does the City Council want to move forward with marketing the site? If so, what is the <br />Council consensus on land use and access? <br />2. In order to position the site for sale, does the Council want to rezone the site or <br />investigate/mitigate any environmental issues? <br />3. Once TCAAP develops, additional space for Public Works equipment storage will be <br />necessary. Does the Council want to retain any part of the site for that purpose, or should a <br />more suitable site be secured? <br />4. What type of community outreach or public participation process is appropriate and when <br />should that occur? <br />5. Would the City Council consider hiring a real estate broker for the Old City Hall site? <br /> <br />Public Works Director Maurer discussed access to this site and stated a right-in/right-out may <br />be the safest option for this property. He explained the traffic pattern for this site would remain <br />unknown until a user was determined. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes asked if townhomes or other residential use would be a good option for <br />this site. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Hutmacher could not say what use was the best fit without <br />additional market information and Council input. She discussed the benefits and challenges of <br />waiting to develop this site until TCAAP begins to develop as this would increase the value of the <br />property for office uses, but would provide more competition for residential uses. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden questioned if the property was mitigated and ready to build on. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Hutmacher reported that the underground fuel tank was <br />removed and mitigated. She commented there may be road sweepings or road construction <br />materials that may still need to be removed. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden discussed the 2006 development proposal and believed that the property <br />was clear and ready for land sale at that time. She was in favor of staff investigating this matter <br />further. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung was in favor of marketing the property for residential use at some <br />point in the future. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden suggested that this wait until the Council could speak to several real <br />estate experts. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant stated that the Council was interested in rezoning the site. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes questioned if any Public Works items are being stored on the site at this <br />time.