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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – AUGUST 22, 2016 4 <br /> <br />Further discussion ensued regarding the design, parking and layout of the entertainment district. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant was in favor of the Council touring the Latitude 45 property to get an idea of the <br />apartment complex that was being proposed for the Town Center. <br /> <br />Mr. Lux welcomed the Council to visit this property stating he would be willing to provide the <br />Councilmembers with a tour. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden questioned how the Master Developer was proposing to make the <br />entertainment district vibrant. <br /> <br />Mr. Lux stated the theater and restaurants would assist in creating a vibrant atmosphere. He <br />noted a brewery would be a great fit for this area as well, along with the hotel. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden asked where the retail shops would be located. <br /> <br />Mr. Lux explained this would not be in the downtown area. Rather, the Town Center would <br />consist of entertainment type retail and neighborhood restaurants with apartments above. The <br />retail acreage would now be located to the west. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden stated this was a whole new concept for the Council to consider. <br /> <br />Mr. Shaver turned the discussion to the need to amend the building height. He reported this was <br />being requested to accommodate a corporate campus and a taller condominium structure. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung questioned if the corporate campus would have structured parking. <br /> <br />Mr. Shaver stated this would be the case. <br /> <br />The Council discussed the corporate campus to be located on the thumb property with the Master <br />Developer, along with the desire for Class A office space. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant noted the thumb property was located along 35W and did have some separation <br />from the residential developments. For this reason, he was willing to consider an amendment to <br />the height requirements. He hoped to see a higher number of jobs on the thumb property and <br />believed the corporate campus would create a buzz to the whole site that would spark the retail. <br /> <br />Councilmember Wicklund was interested in knowing the ideal timeline for text and map <br />changes to ensure the Town Center was brought to fruition quickly. <br /> <br />Ms. Kvilvang reviewed the Comprehensive Plan Amendment process and stated it was the <br />Master Developer’s hope that these changes could be made by November. <br /> <br />Councilmembers Wicklund and McClung also supported a change in the height restrictions for <br />the thumb property. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden questioned what the new maximum height would be. <br />