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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – JANUARY 25, 2021 5 <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden suggested this be revisited considering a large number of people only <br />use a sink and microwave in their kitchen. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant inquired if the .5 designation for the memory care units only applied to the B-2 <br />Zoning District. <br /> <br />Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla reported this was the case. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes asked if the memory care units go down to .5, would all three of the <br />deficiencies be taken care of. <br /> <br />Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla indicated this would address the <br />density concern. He stated the minimum lot area per unit requirement would be very close if the <br />memory care units counted as .5. He commented further on the common space that was located <br />within the memory care unit. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes inquired if the $20,000 cash payment for trees equated to the cost for <br />the trees that were missing. <br /> <br />Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla explained the applicant would have <br />to pay over $100,000 for tree replacement on the site. He discussed the restrictions on the site and <br />noted the applicant was meeting the tree mitigation requirements per the code, but not the <br />replacement requirements. For this reason, the applicant was proposing to pay $20,000. He <br />commented further on the difference between tree mitigation and tree replacement. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes stated in the past the City worked to get the amount of the donation to <br />be approximately the amount for the tree loss. <br /> <br />Councilmember Scott asked if there was a significant oak located on the site. <br /> <br />Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla stated there is no oak tree on site, but <br />rather the large trees on site are cottonwoods. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant opened the public hearing at 8:06 p.m. <br /> <br />Bobby Goldman, County Road F - Unit 309, explained he grew up in Arden Hills and uses the <br />trails in the area. He expressed concern with the number of mature trees that would be lost and <br />feared this project could set a precedent for tree preservation. He commented on the City’s tree <br />preservation requirements noting the applicant was only proposing to replace a fraction of the <br />trees that are being removed. This was concerning because future developers could then opt to <br />make a payment in lieu of replanting trees. He reported he supported new types of housing coming <br />into Arden Hills but recommended the development consider further tree preservation. <br /> <br />Gregg Larson, 3377 North Snelling Avenue, discussed affordable housing in Arden Hills. He <br />explained this development would include 146 senior units and would provide a great opportunity <br />to affordable housing. However, this opportunity was squandered. He asked of the 146 units, how <br />many had been set aside for low income Arden Hills seniors. He questioned if the Arden Hills