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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – July 10 , 2019 6 Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla anticipated the building would act as a noise barrier. He reported federal action would be required to get a noise wall along the freeway. Mr. Winnicke questioned what the height of the new building would be. Jamison Polk, Summit Development, explained the height at the mid-point was 40 feet six inches and noted the highest point on the roof was roughly 47 feet. There being no additional comment Chair Gehrig closed the public hearing at 7:17 p.m. Chair Gehrig opened the floor to Commissioner comments. Commissioner Zimmerman discussed the parking situation. He questioned if the site was adequately parked for guests and asked where employees would park. Mr. Polk explained based on his experience senior housing developments require .6 to .75 parking stalls per unit. He indicated not all residents would have cars and estimated only 25% of the residents would still be driving. He noted the site would have 50 surface stalls for employees and visitors. Commissioner Wicklund asked what the minimum requirements were for studio apartments. Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla reviewed the size requirements for studio apartments. He explained the studio style memory care units were designed to protect the patients. Mr. Polk indicated the memory care patients spent the majority of their time in the memory care unit and used their apartment strictly for sleeping purposes. He commented further on the size and purpose of the memory care unit. Commissioner Wicklund inquired if the City had reviewed and approved the exchange process. Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla reported the exchange had been reviewed by the City Attorney and he recommended approval of the process. Commissioner Wicklund questioned if the City Council had a written policy for changing uses to increase or decrease density. He stated the City Council was typically averse to increasing density. Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla explained the PUD process allows for development with a greater number of units while the City receives something in return for allowing the use. He indicated the Council had reviewed this application twice and originally had concerns with the density and noted the number of units had been decreased. He stated one of the City’s goals was to have life cycling housing, which this plan would be providing.