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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – NOVEMBER 16, 2015 7 <br /> <br />Community Development Director Hutmacher stated the 2015 Planning Commission Work <br />Plan included a task to clarify transparent versus non transparent coverage. At their September 9, <br />2015, meeting, the Planning Commission questioned whether additional amendments to B2/B3 <br />Zoning Districts were necessary and asked that staff obtain City Council direction. She said a <br />public hearing regarding the ordinance amendment was held on November 4, 2015. The Planning <br />Commission voted to recommend the City Council approve the ordinance amendment, and staff <br />recommends this item be placed on the November 30, 2015, agenda as an interim solution. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung supported moving forward with the ordinance amendment. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant concurred but wanted a better understanding from staff as to the Planning <br />Commission’s direction in terms of other items in the B2/B3 Zoning Districts. <br /> <br />Associate Planner Bachler indicated the Planning Commission’s main concerns were building <br />setback requirements and placement of parking lots (currently, parking lots are to be located at the <br />side or rear of a building). He said the Planning Commission suggested discussing this item at the <br />joint Planning Commission/City Council Work Session in January 2016. <br /> <br />Discussion ensued regarding the City’s vision for the B2/B3 Zoning Districts. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Hutmacher indicated that City staff recommends that <br />Council consider the proposed ordinance amendment at their next regular meeting, but can provide <br />more in-depth information if the City Council wishes to further review as part of the 2016 Work <br />Plan. <br /> <br />The Council supported moving forward with the ordinance amendment. <br /> <br /> <br />D. 2016 Fee Schedule <br /> <br />Acting City Administrator Iverson explained that the City Council annually establishes a fee <br />schedule. She provided the Council with a recap of the fee schedule changes in recent years. She <br />stated that staff has reviewed the fee schedule and has also researched the “Municipal License and <br />Permit Fee Survey” results on Metro Cities’ website to evaluate Arden Hills’ rates to determine if <br />Arden Hills is comparable. A few changes as noted in red were recommended for the 2016 fee <br />schedule. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant asked about fees for impounding signs. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Hutmacher stated staff removes signs that violate the City’s <br />ordinance and will return the sign to the owner upon payment of a fee. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes requested the following language be added to the picnic table item: “Fee <br />waived for Night to Unite and other public events open to all Arden Hills residents”. She also <br />asked for clarification of SAC and WAC fees. <br /> <br />A discussion ensued regarding how SAC and WAC fees (Water Availability Fee) are calculated.