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ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL – DECEMBER 12, 2016 17 Mayor Grant summarized that the developer was proposing 300 senior units which was roughly 20% of the units within the entire development or 37% of the units within the Town Center. He saw an advantage to having forward momentum in the project by offering senior housing, however he also wanted for the development to remain sustainable. Councilmember Holmes expressed confusion with the proposed amendment. Councilmember Wicklund clarified that Councilmember Holden was proposing a constriction on what could be placed on TC3. He did not support further constriction on this area of the development. Mayor Grant stated all throughout the code there was constriction. He believed the purpose of the TRC was to guide. The amendment failed 1-4 (Mayor Grant, Holmes, McClung and Wicklund opposed). Councilmember Holmes asked if there was any support for reducing the number of senior units within the development. Mayor Grant stated he wanted the Town Center to be vibrant and believed this could occur with independent senior living rather than skilled nursing. Councilmember Wicklund questioned if the Mayor would support a reduction in senior housing units if overall density was increased. Mayor Grant commented he could support 200 senior living units in the Town Center. Councilmember McClung reminded the Council that the viability of the downtown area would not be determined by one or two blocks within the development. He believed the vitality of the Town Center had to do with the entire 470 acres and the access this development would have off of 35W and Highway 96. He believed that seniors these days were vibrant, active and mobile. He discussed how the State of Minnesota was aging and encouraged the Council to consider the value of providing a variety of housing options to allow Arden Hills’ residents to age in place. Councilmember Wicklund asked for a response from the developer on how he would feel about reducing the number of senior units in return for more density. Mr. Lux reported this was an interesting scenario. He stated if 100 units were taken away from seniors, that would put a 100-unit complex elsewhere and this was not popular. He explained how large complexes were necessary for vibrancy and vitality. He discussed how the density and proposed units within TC3 could shift around. Further discussion ensued regarding the redevelopment of the area formerly known as Apache Plaza.