Laserfiche WebLink
Metadata
Document management portal powered by Laserfiche WebLink 9 © 1998-2015 Laserfiche. All rights reserved.
City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan- DRAFT <br /> 1. INTRODUCTION <br /> Incorporated in 1951, the City of Arden Hills lies approximately eight miles north of <br /> downtown Saint Paul and downtown Minneapolis (Map) in the northwestern portion <br /> of Ramsey County. The City is 9.4 square miles and is home to an estimated <br /> population of 9,787 people in 2005, which is a slight increase from 9,652 residents <br /> counted in the 2000 census. The residents of Arden Hills enjoy a high quality of <br /> living with access to neighborhood and regional parks and trails; superb access to <br /> regional transportation; and stable neighborhoods. <br /> In addition to the City's high quality neighborhoods, Arden Hills is home to a number <br /> of large corporations, many small businesses, two private colleges, a high school, an <br /> elementary school, and more than 12,000 jobs. Arden Hills is a strong community <br /> that attracts residents and businesses because of its close-knit neighborhoods, <br /> parks, responsible government, and open spaces. Additionally, the Twin Cities <br /> Army Ammunition Plan (TCAAP) property provides the City with an opportunity for <br /> new development to help service the City's current and future residents. <br /> While Arden Hills is a stable community with a bright future, the City does face some <br /> challenges. The median age has risen dramatically in recent years, a large percent <br /> of the City's land area is tax-exempt, fewer families with children are able to afford a <br /> home in the City, and the regional transportation infrastructure is at or beyond <br /> • capacity in many places. With one million new residents expected in the Twin Cities <br /> area between 2000 and 2030, Arden Hills will undoubtedly feel the pressure for <br /> development and the impact of development in other communities. <br /> The Comprehensive Plan is a policy document essentially asks where are we now, <br /> where do we want to go, and how do we get there. The document reflects the City's <br /> value system and creates a framework for the future by providing an overall vision <br /> for the City. As a guiding tool, the Plan provides a system for measuring progress, <br /> direction for day-to-day and long-term decision-making, and helps set priorities. This <br /> Arden Hills Comprehensive Plan guides the City in several key areas that are vital to <br /> the successful and efficient function of the community: <br /> ■ Land use <br /> • Housing <br /> ■ Transportation <br /> ■ Infrastructure <br /> ■ Parks and recreation <br /> • Open space <br /> • Public facilities <br /> DRAFT 3 <br /> 3/i4/2aoa <br />