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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – July 6, 2016 4 <br /> <br /> <br />Commissioner Jones asked if the existing sign was lit or if additional lighting would be needed. <br /> <br />Ms. Droege explained the current sign was lit and no additional lighting would be needed. <br /> <br />Commissioner Zimmerman moved and Commissioner Bartel seconded a motion to <br />recommend approval of Planning Case 16-018 for a Site Plan Review for a Sign Standard <br />Adjustment at 4001 Lexington Avenue North, based on the findings of fact and the <br />submitted plans, as amended by the five (5) conditions in the July 6, 2016, Report to the <br />Planning Commission. <br /> <br />Chair Thompson stated that while the sign was quite large, she believed it fit the site. She <br />encouraged Land O’Lakes to keep the sign in prime condition. <br /> <br />Commissioner Lambeth believed the sign would bring attention to the cause and for this reason <br />supported the sign standard adjustment. <br /> <br />The motion carried unanimously (6-0). <br /> <br />B. Planning Case 16-016; Final PUD Phase 2 – Land O’Lakes – 4100 Lexington <br />Avenue North – No Public Hearing Required <br /> <br />City Planner Streff stated that the Land O’Lakes corporate headquarters has operated in Arden <br />Hills since 1981, and operates as a Planned Unit Development (PUD) originally approved in <br />Planning Case 79-004. The original Master PUD was recently amended to include two additional <br />phases of development. The Planning Commission reviewed the Master PUD Amendment and <br />the Final PUD for Phase 1 of the project during their regular meeting on June 8, 2016, and <br />unanimously recommended approval. Following the Planning Commission review, the City <br />Council approved the Master PUD and Final PUD for Phase 1 of the development on June 27, <br />2016. <br /> <br />City Planner Streff commented that the Land O’Lakes campus is comprised of approximately <br />49 acres and is generally located north of Interstate 694, east of Hamline Avenue North, south of <br />County Road F, and west of Lexington Avenue North. Currently, the site contains two principal <br />buildings situated towards the center of the property: the corporate headquarter building and a <br />research and development building. Between these two facilities, the campus includes 263,800 <br />gross square feet of building space. Additional improvements on the site include a surface <br />parking lot with approximately 931 parking stalls and regional stormwater facilities. The <br />remainder of the property is covered by wooded and open lawn areas. <br /> <br />City Planner Streff reported that the applicant is requesting approval of a major addition to their <br />campus that would allow the company to consolidate their Arden Hills and Shoreview locations <br />into one headquarters facility at their existing Arden Hills property. The proposal includes the <br />construction of a four-story, approximately 155,000 gross square foot office building just to the <br />north of the existing principal buildings. Land O’Lakes is incorporating sustainable best practices <br />into the design of the building and will seek a minimum of LEED Gold certification for the <br />project. Other site improvements would include the expansion of the surface parking lots to