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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – November 8, 2017 6 <br /> <br />Mr. Zweber commented further on the policies the City had in place to assist with affordable <br />housing development. He described how affordable housing required a great deal more <br />interaction between several levels of government when compared to market rate housing. <br /> <br />Vice Chair Jones asked if Met Council had new affordable housing requirements for the entire <br />metro area. <br /> <br />Mr. Zweber explained the Met Council had requirements for each urban, suburban and <br />emerging suburb in the metro area. He reported the Met Council did not have a one size fits all <br />standard regarding affordable housing. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Bachler commented on how the City would be working to ensure a variety of <br />housing products would be constructed on TCAAP. He explained the City had the proper <br />regulations in place to assist in meeting this goal. <br /> <br />Commissioner Bartel questioned what would happen to Arden Hills if they did not meet the <br />Met Council’s housing goals. <br /> <br />Mr. Zweber stated the Met Council had yearly check-ins and would be monitoring the City’s <br />efforts. He indicated there could be many reasons why a City does not achieve its goal such as <br />lack of experienced developers or proper funding sources. <br /> <br />COMMENTS AND REPORTS <br /> <br />A. Report from the City Council <br /> <br />Senior Planner Bachler updated the Planning Commission on City Council activities from the <br />September 25, 2017 City Council Regular Meeting, stating the City Council approved Planning <br />Case 17-023 for a Master and Final Planned Unit Development for the redevelopment of 3920 <br />Northwoods Drive for a Marriott Springhill Suites hotel. This planning case was reviewed by the <br />Planning Commission on September 6, 2017 and received a recommendation for approval. The <br />developer is expecting to demolish the existing office building on the property this year and <br />begin construction on the hotel in 2018. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Bachler explained the City Council approved Planning Case 17-020 for the <br />Zoning Code amendments and property rezoning related to higher education land uses. The City <br />Council approved the creation of a new Institutional Zoning District and permitted the higher <br />education campus use only in this district. The Bethel University and University of Northwestern <br />main campuses were rezoned to Institutional District. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Bachler reported the State of the City was held this year on September 28 at the <br />Tavern Grill restaurant and on October 3 at City Hall. Councilmembers presented on the TCAAP <br />redevelopment project, local transportation and development projects, and parks and trails. A <br />representative from the Minnesota Department of Transportation provided information on road <br />improvement projects scheduled for 2018 and 2019. The Tavern Grill event was attended by <br />approximately 50 people. The City Hall event was attended by approximately 20 people. In <br />comparison, the 2016 State of the City morning event at Flaherty’s Arden Bowl was attended by <br />approximately 70 people.