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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – DECEMBER 12, 2016 2 <br /> <br />Stacie Kvilvang, Ehlers & Associates, stated she would make this minor change. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant requested comment on the Town Center park shelter. <br /> <br />Ms. Kvilvang discussed the proposed open air pavilion for Town Center park and noted how the <br />language would be changed within the agreement. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes understood the Creek park had space for 45 vehicles. She questioned if <br />the Hill park would have parking and agreements. <br /> <br />Ms. Kvilvang reported the Hill park would not have any off-street parking. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung appreciated the amount of work staff and the developer have put into <br />the TRC. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant asked for comments from the Council on the option agreement for the Civic <br />property. He explained he supported the two-year timeline. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes supported the option agreement and stated she had no amendments. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung believed the option agreement would assist in keeping the Council <br />moving along on this project. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant suggested the Council create a task force or subcommittee to work on the Civic <br />property. Hearing no further comments from the Council he recommended the discussion shift to <br />the TRC. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden stated there was nothing specific she didn’t like within the plan. Her <br />concern was with the lack of due diligence on the Council’s part to see what will and won’t work <br />in the plan. She wanted to see the Town Center succeed where numerous other developments <br />have failed. She expressed concern with the underground parking and high level of senior <br />housing. She feared how the Town Center would be vibrant with the proposed number of senior <br />housing units. She questioned what amenities would be offered in the smaller apartment <br />complex. She questioned how this complex would remain sustainable without an amenity <br />package. She understood the developer had done his due diligence, but believed the City had not. <br /> <br />Councilmember Wicklund believed Councilmember Holden had raised several good questions. <br />He wondered how the senior housing would be connected to the retail portion of the development. <br /> <br />Bob Lux, Alatus, commented on the amount of retail that would be located in the Town Center. <br />He stated he had no concerns with the level of activity from the seniors that would be living <br />within the Town Center. He saw the seniors as a stabilizer for the mall area. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden stated the City had no idea how many senior units would be located in <br />the Town Center. She stated she would rather see brownstones within Town Center versus an <br />institutional style senior building. <br />