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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – JULY 25, 2016 8 of the new building. The company estimates that 2,100 employees will work on the site after consolidation in late 2018. City Planner Streff commented Land O’Lakes will be completing the new office building and site improvements over two phases. Phase I was approved by the City Council on June 27, 2016, and includes the expansion and reconfiguration of the visitor parking lot on the south side of the existing buildings. This phase is expected to be completed by late summer 2016. Phase 2 of the project would consist of the remaining components of the expansion project, including the new office building and the expansion of the employee surface parking lot on the north side of the buildings. Construction on Phase 2 is expected to be complete by December 31, 2018. In Planning Case 16-016, Land O’Lakes is requesting City approvals for the Final PUD for Phase 2 of the project. City Planner Streff stated the Planned Unit Development process is a tool that provides additional flexibility for development that an underlying zoning district would not otherwise allow. For example, a PUD may make exceptions to setbacks, lot coverage, parking requirements, signage, building materials, or landscaping requirements. It is intended to overcome the limitations of zoning regulations and improve the overall design of a project. While the PUD process allows the City to negotiate certain aspects of the development, any conditions imposed on the PUD must have a rational basis related to the expected impact of the development. A PUD cannot be used to permit uses that would not otherwise be permitted in the underlying zoning district. City Planner Streff explained the findings of fact for the Final PUD for Phase 2 support approval. He reported the Planning Commission reviewed Planning Case 16-016 at their regular meeting on July 6, 2016. The Commission unanimously recommended approval (6-0) for a Final PUD for Phase 2 located at 4001 Lexington Avenue North, based on the finding of fact and submitted plans, as amended by the twenty-two (22) conditions in the July 25, 2016, Report to the City Council. Marsha Droege, Land O’Lakes representative, provided the Council with a more detailed presentation on the Phase II Plans. She explained that Land O’Lakes was proposing to expand in Arden Hills in order to bring all of their employees onto one campus. She discussed the growth Land O’Lakes would be facing in the coming years and noted the company wanted to work to secure its core talent. She then reviewed the construction schedule for the Land O’Lakes project. John Slack, Perkins & Will, reviewed the landscaping, site plan and architectural design for the buildings with the Council. He reported Land O’Lakes would be planting a great deal of native pollinators. He then focused on the central plaza between the two buildings noting Land O’Lakes would be seeking LEED Gold certification for the new building. He stated an outdoor nature themed playground was being considered, in conjunction with a daycare. Russell Filstrom, Perkins & Will, discussed the building programming elements with the Council. He then reviewed the exterior building elevations and described the existing and proposed building materials, which would be brick, glass and dark metal panels. He commented on the rooftop screening along with the at grade connection that would be constructed between the two buildings. Mayor Grant commented on the phasing of the project.