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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—OCTOBER 11, 2021 8 <br /> Councilmember Holmes stated she would support this matter being tabled versus the item being <br /> denied. She commented she would like to see only the Aldi building on this property without the <br /> second building. She explained if the item were denied altogether the applicant could not alter the <br /> plans. <br /> Councilmember Holden indicated she did not support this item being tabled because the <br /> applicant has been told to not have so many buildings, to reduce the number of variances and the <br /> applicant has chosen not to do this. She commented if the item were tabled it would come back to <br /> the City Council and would not go before the Planning Commission. She believed the plans <br /> needed to be significantly altered prior to being reconsidered by the Council. She reported the <br /> same concerns that are being voiced this evening have already been voiced to the applicant and <br /> the applicant had not heeded these concerns. <br /> Councilmember Scott stated he was surprised and pleased that the applicant had come back with <br /> changes. He commented on how the national coffee house had been changed to a dental/bank <br /> building. He appreciated the fact that the applicant had addressed some of the concerns, and <br /> understood there were still some concerns out there. He reported the Council has a history of <br /> accommodating and working with developers. He stated he was not in favor of denying the <br /> request, but would support tabling the matter. <br /> Mayor Grant commented the concern with this PUD was the number of variances being <br /> requested. He stated he was not seeing what the applicant was bringing to the City. He noted a <br /> PUD was not a license to do away with City Code requirements. He explained he would like to <br /> see this project reconfigured. <br /> Councilmember Holden discussed the flexibility that was granted for Lexington Station Phase 3. <br /> She did not believe there were any projects in the City where more than 15 flexibility variances <br /> were granted. <br /> Councilmember Scott reported this site was an eyesore and he would like to see it redeveloped. <br /> He indicated he was willing to negotiate on these items. <br /> Mayor Grant commented staff neglected to state this site would require additional flexibility in <br /> order to have a drive thru, which was another matter for the Council to consider. He discussed <br /> how business models were changing due to COVID and noted the number of drive thrus in the <br /> community may be on the rise. He stated he did not have a problem with the drive-thru on the site. <br /> He believed there were enough concerns with this project and that they could not be solved from <br /> the bench. <br /> Councilmember Holmes indicated the building orientation was in compliance with the zoning <br /> code. She noted she had major concerns with the parking and setbacks. She did not believe the <br /> second building fit on this site. She commented on the number of variances that have been <br /> approved over the past 16 years that she has been serving on the City Council and did not recall <br /> the Council ever granting variances to allow a second structure on a property that was not part of <br /> the main business. She asked if the applicant would be willing to consider just an Aldi building <br /> on this site without the second building. <br />