Laserfiche WebLink
ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – NOVEMBER 13, 2018 2 <br /> <br />Mayor Grant explained he did not want the City to feel like the County could push them around. <br />He stated he looked forward to holding this meeting. <br /> <br />Councilmember Scott agreed. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung cautioned the City from continuing to hold meetings and spend <br />money on TCAAP items that would not be reimbursed. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes encouraged the Council to consider how many questions could be <br />raised about what was going on. She indicated the residents know the County has put a halt to <br />everything. She reported the Council had to address this issue. She commented the City also had <br />to understand what the County meant by putting this project on hold for the next six months. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung explained the City of St. Paul was a willing partner with the County <br />for the core plant project. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant supported the City moving forward with the meeting on Thursday. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes agreed but questioned how the City was going to address the questions <br />that will be raised at this meeting. <br /> <br />Blois Olson, Fluent Media, explained the idea for a meeting was brought about after speaking <br />with the public about TCAAP. The premise of the meeting was to provide the public with a <br />platform to provide the City with input regarding TCAAP. He commented the County has a <br />couple of obstacles in place given the fact they have two projects there were trying to manage at <br />the same time and for this reason, sent a letter to the City as a piece of leverage. He was of the <br />opinion the density issue was the main concern for the County. He reported there were advocacy <br />groups in place that were pushing the issue of affordable housing throughout the County and Twin <br />Cities metropolitan area. For this reason, the County Board may be pushing each other to get <br />more density out of the TCAAP development. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes stated the biggest hang up for the County right now was 161 units. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung indicated the number of affordable housing units may be a moving <br />target. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden explained the project will not make any money if TIF has to be offered <br />for a higher percentage of affordable housing units. <br /> <br />Mr. Olson commented affordable housing was a regional issue that the Met Council was stressing <br />at this time. He noted affordable housing would be addressed at a State level in 2019. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes questioned if the TCAAP site could absorb more density. She <br />supported the City asking the residents of Arden Hills if they wanted more density in TCAAP. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant feared that too much density may be placed on this site as well and questioned how <br />the development would support itself.