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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – June 6, 2012 6 <br /> <br />Mr. Ed VonHoltum stated he was Chairman of the Economic Development Commission. <br />He heard about this project by reading the newspaper. He asked how the proposed <br />change came about. Chair Larson stated it came out of a joint meeting between Council <br />and the Planning Commission to look at the B-2 District. Mr. VonHoltum asked if the <br />current zoning was not adequate. Mr. VonHoltum stated there is a quarter mile of vacant <br />buildings along County Road E. He was involved on a steering committee to work on the <br />B-2 plan along with 14 members. They worked hard on the plan. <br /> <br />Mr. Tim Keane, Malkerson Gunn Martin, LLP, representing the owners of the property <br />on County Road E and Lexington. He stated they are against the amendment to the <br />zoning code. He stated this amendment seems to be a result of the previous proposal to <br />convert the Holiday Inn into multi-family housing. The current proposal is to convert the <br />units to code compliant apartments. Mr. Keane stated zoning amendments can be started <br />by a property owner, the Planning Commission or the City Council. Mr. Keane stated the <br />concerns that seem to be driving this amendment are driven by traffic issues and trip <br />generation. He presented a letter to the Planning Commission along with a trip <br />generation analysis. He stated multi-family is on the low end of trip generation. He does <br />not believe traffic should be driving this text amendment. Mr. Keane stated this is a <br />mixed use district including commercial and residential. The inclusion of multi-family in <br />this district was included in the comprehensive plan. He requested the Planning <br />Commission delay any action on this and continue the discussion to continue the <br />opportunity to explore this text amendment as well as the traffic issues that seem to be <br />driving this. <br /> <br />Mr. Rob Davidson, owner of 1201 property. He stated on May 14th they were denied <br />their request at the City Council meeting. On May 23rd they received notice the City was <br />planning to remove multi-family housing from the B-2 district. A new proposal will be <br />coming before the Planning Commission in July. Mr. Davidson stated he has been <br />developing commercial properties in this area for 30 years. The kinds of development <br />being proposed at the 1201 County Road E property would be as good as their previous <br />developments. He stated multi-family would be the least impact solution to the area. Mr. <br />Davidson stated the apartment would be an advantage to the City. He requested the <br />proposal of amending the zoning code be denied. <br /> <br />Mr. Flaherty of Flaherty’s Arden Bowl. He is discouraged with the vacancies on County <br />Road E. They had a property tax valuation done on their two parking lots and a <br />consultant was brought in and her comment was the B-2 zoning is a deal killer for <br />commercial business. He feels the Commission should be encouraging businesses rather <br />than sending them away. He said we need to get serious on County Road E and start <br />moving. He would be in favor of the multi-family plan that will be proposed in July. <br /> <br />Chair Larson closed the public hearing at 7:19 p.m. <br /> <br />Staff is recommending removing multi-family dwellings as a permitted use in the B-2 <br />District while Bolton & Menk complete their work on Phase I of the B-2 District <br />Implementation Plan. The expected outcome of Bolton & Menk’s work is a final report <br />and recommendation for traffic management solutions that can be acted upon by the City. <br />The hope is that removing multi-family dwellings is a temporary action; however, the <br />City must first identify how to adequately address traffic management solution that can <br />be agreed upon by the Council that will accommodate land uses and densities.