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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – April 5, 2023 4 <br /> <br /> <br />Chair Vijums opened the floor to Commissioner comments. <br /> <br />Commissioner Bjorklund stated he had a lot of concerns with the proposal. He questioned if <br />Flaherty’s would be serving alcohol in the outdoor locations. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Jagoe explained the Applicant was currently allowed to <br />serve alcohol on the patio and this service would continue in the new expanded patio area. <br /> <br />Commissioner Bjorklund indicated he was concerned with noise that would be generated from <br />the expanded patio area. He feared amplified sound would be coming from Flaherty’s which <br />would adversely impact the quiet enjoyment of the surrounding residential neighbors. He <br />suggested the patio area be properly screened. <br /> <br />Commissioner Collins requested further information on what was meant by commercial <br />recreation. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Jagoe explained this included bowling alleys, indoor <br />archery or health clubs that were in a commercial zoning district. <br /> <br />Commissioner Weber stated he supported the request and recommended screening be <br />considered for the patio area. <br /> <br />Chair Vijums questioned if the proposed zoning code language would apply to future <br />commercial recreation requests. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Jagoe stated this language would apply to businesses that <br />were commercial recreation indoor uses that wished to expand to having commercial recreation <br />outdoor use. <br /> <br />Chair Vijums asked how staff came up with the proposed size limitations (1,500 square feet). <br /> <br />Community Development Director Jagoe explained this was based on the proposed request <br />and staff attempting to set a standard for the outdoor space so that it might not be expanded into <br />the size of a hockey rink or ballfield size outdoor area. <br /> <br />Chair Vijums supported the City having more flexibility with the size of the outdoor recreation <br />space or perhaps having this be a ratio to the building size. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Jagoe stated the Planning Commission could modify this <br />language or make the outdoor recreation a conditional use. <br /> <br />Commissioner Weber indicated he did not believe it was appropriate to change City Code that <br />only benefits one business in the City. He supported outdoor recreation being more open to other <br />businesses as well. <br /> <br />Commissioner Collins commented he supported the Commission discussing the size of the <br />outdoor space further. He explained he did not want the outdoor spaces taken to an extreme, but