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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — APRIL 10, 2023 2 <br />George Winnicke, 4175 Old Highway 10, noted he was an insurance broker by trade. He <br />discussed how he completed risk analysis and risk factor ratings for properties. He commented on <br />the risks surrounding some of the TCAAP property, as it was within a superfund site. He <br />understood some of the property was highly contaminated and encouraged the City to speak with <br />an attorney before developing this site. He feared the City would spend a fortune developing and <br />defending this property. He explained he was asked by the Army to remove his private well and to <br />hook up to City water because the water under the TCAAP property was highly contaminated. He <br />reported pollution liability was a very big deal and he did not want this development to come back <br />and bite the City in the future. <br />Linda Swanson, 1124 Ingerson Road, explained she had attended all of the JDA meetings but has <br />not been able to attend the JDA Advisory Committee meetings. She expressed concern with the <br />fact the JDA Advisory Committee meetings were not held publicly nor were their minutes <br />available to residents. She discussed how Councilmembers were to be transparent and make <br />information available to the public, however with this committee, Councilmember Fabel did not <br />feel it was necessary. She understood the JDA would be holding a worksession meeting on May 1. <br />She questioned when the needs and the wants of Arden Hills residents would be addressed by the <br />JDA. She asked when the County would be coming forward with their wants. She stated after the <br />April 3 JDA meeting, she now understands why Ramsey County was pushing for so many <br />affordable housing units. However, she questioned why Arden Hills should have to shoulder the <br />affordable housing deficit that Ramsey County found themselves in. She summarized other <br />comments that were made at the April 3 JDA meeting. She expressed concern with how the <br />TCAAP project was moving forward given the numerous promises from the slate <br />Councilmembers. <br />Donna Weeman, 1406 Arden View Drive, stated at the April 3 JDA meeting, staff confirmed the <br />minutes of the JDA Advisory Committee would be posted on the City's website. She reported this <br />group has met on three different occasions and she looked forward to reviewing these minutes. <br />She recommended a survey be completed for the TCAAP development now rather than later in <br />order to gather information from Arden Hills residents. She discussed how Ramsey County was <br />short 15,000 affordable housing units. She indicated this was a huge number and she anticipated <br />some of the units within TCAAP would be affordable. However, she did not believe it made <br />sense for the entire development to be affordable high density. She explained as of 2019, 40% of <br />the housing units in Arden Hills were affordable at 80% AMI and 13% of the City's housing was <br />at 30% AMI. <br />Kathy Sukke, 1286 Karth Lake Circle, reported she has lived in Arden Hills for the past 36 years. <br />She noted the JDA meeting held on April 3 was disappointing, noting the group followed <br />Councilmember Rousseau's lead and curtailed freedom of speech from the public. She believed <br />there was nothing clean about the clean slate serving on the JDA. She questioned why 40 years of <br />experience had been removed from the JDA. She feared the City was not properly protected. She <br />understood Ramsey County paid too much for the TCAAP property and she believed the federal <br />government should have cleaned it up when they polluted it. She has been told that the site was <br />only cleaned down to four feet and feared how homes or underground parking could be <br />constructed on the property. She recommended the development remain at 1460 units as this <br />would lead to 3,300 units. She stated this would be a very dense development as there would be <br />over 3,000 people living on 161 acres. She explained she had to laugh at Ramsey County's <br />