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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL JOINT WORK SESSION – JANUARY 19, 2016 3 Senior Planner Bachler indicated that the B-2 District Design Standards require commercial buildings with frontage on a public street to have a minimum façade transparency of 50 percent. The approved development plans granted Goodwill flexibility on this requirement, allowing for transparent window coverage of 26.4 percent on the County Road E façade. The addition of the two transparent windows would bring the development into closer conformity with the B-2 District Design Standards. Senior Planner Bachler stated that the Development Contract and PUD Agreement for the project requires that any significant changes to the approved plans be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission and City Council. The City Attorney advised that because the modification is minor and brings the building in closer conformance with the City’s standards the proposal could be approved administratively. Councilmember Holmes stated that she was dismayed that this item was on the agenda. She believed that the request should have been handled administratively. She questioned why the applicant could not follow the plan approved by the City. Community Development Director Hutmacher explained that the plan approved by the City Council for the Goodwill Store had some non-transparent windows on the County Road E facade. The applicant asked last Wednesday if two of the non-transparent windows could be replaced with transparent windows. She reported that normally any changes would have to be approved by the Council. However, the proposed change more closely aligned with the goals and objectives within City Code. After speaking with the City Attorney, it was determined that staff could approve the change. It was noted that staff sent an email to the City Councilmembers to see if there was any objection and one objection was brought to staff’s attention. In the end, she reported that the applicant withdrew its request and would be installing the windows as shown in their plans. Councilmember Holden did not understand why the applicant assumed that they would receive an immediate response from City staff regarding this matter. Mayor Grant reiterated that typically when an applicant makes a change to their plans, this requires City Council review. Councilmember Holden suggested that the Council discuss the administrative/Council procedure for approving plan changes in the future. Councilmember McClung reported that he had no objection to the requested change by the applicant. He expressed some concern with the quick turnaround the applicant was demanding from the City. He was in favor of the Council discussing the administrative approval process at a future Council work session. Mayor Grant requested that administrative changes be discussed by the City Council at a future work session. C. Outdoor Display and Sales Zoning Regulations