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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – JUNE 27, 2022 7 <br /> <br />request before them to consider. He reported the Council was considering the long-term vision <br />for this area with the surrounding uses being neighborhood and a church. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant discussed how difficult it would be for the Council to separate the two, the request <br />before the Council for the Comprehensive Plan Amendments, and the future plans for the site <br />(potential senior housing project). <br /> <br />Councilmember Scott asked if the 10.7 acres being requested for rezoning would remain tax <br />exempt. <br /> <br />City Planner Jagoe stated the zoning of the property was not being considered this evening. She <br />explained this would come with a future application and if the land use were to change this would <br />be evaluated by Ramsey County. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant commented on the uses that were allowed within the Institutional zoning district. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant opened the public hearing at 8:04 p.m. <br /> <br />Roger Fink, Trident Development, stated he was a representative for the applicant. He thanked <br />the Council for considering his request. He understood it was difficult to act on this request <br />without knowing what come to the City in the future. He discussed his concept plans noting <br />Trident was under contract with the church to acquire this site. He reported the conceptual plans <br />include a three story, 124-unit senior living building with an underground parking lot. He <br />indicated this plan remains consistent. He stated the Comprehensive Plan Amendment was the <br />first step in the application process. He indicated as part of the site improvements he would be <br />resurfacing and restriping both the churches parking lot and the new senior living parking lot. He <br />explained there was a growing need for independent senior housing in Arden Hills. He believed <br />this was a perfect location for this concept. He indicated Trident Development would be the <br />owner of this property so that tax status would change. He thanked staff for providing the Council <br />with a detailed staff report and noted his application could be modified to show a land use change <br />only on the land the senior housing project was on and not the entire North Heights property. <br /> <br />John Oldfield, North Heights Church, commented on the concern the Planning Commission <br />raised regarding the tree loss. He noted he shared this concern. He reported he has had volunteers <br />plant over 700 trees on the North Heights campus over the past year in order to maintain the <br />beauty of the property. He reported at the last special meeting of the church 86% of the members <br />voted in favor to support the selling the property for this development. In addition, over 70 <br />members have expressed an interest in renting units in this building. He indicated North Heights <br />has had a long term goal of owning high density residential property and would like to have a first <br />right of refusal on the Trident senior housing. <br /> <br />TJ Anderson, senior pastor at North Heights Church, explained North Heights has been <br />committed to the care and support of the community. He stated as the population ages, the church <br />was considering how to care for the physical, spiritual, mental and emotional needs of the elderly. <br />He believed it was important to address the changing demographics in Arden Hills. He discussed <br />the Young at Heart ministry within North Heights Church, which was a group that was working to <br />address the needs of the 55+ community. He commented on how this population was often