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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – JUNE 26, 2023 11 MOTION: Councilmember Monson moved and Councilmember Fabel seconded a motion to adopt Ordinance 2023-006 for Planning Case 23-011 for Zoning Code Amendments to Chapter 13, Section 1380 – TCAAP Redevelopment Code, Section 5 – Schedule of Permitted Uses, Subsections 5.1 and 5.2 of the Arden Hills City Code to add permitted and accessory uses in the Campus Commercial Zoning District based on the Findings of Fact in the June 26, 2023 Report to the City Council. Councilmember Holden stated she would be voting against this Ordinance. While she believed this language was a good idea, she believed the timing was not right given the fact the County had an RFP that was currently underway. She indicated it would have been better to have considered this change prior to the RFP being put out. Mayor Grant asked when RFP’s had to be submitted. Community Development Director Jagoe stated RFP’s had to be submitted by July 28. Councilmember Monson agreed the timing was not perfect, but she encouraged the Council not let perfect be the enemy of good. She commented on how market conditions have changed since the pandemic and asked that the Council be flexible in order to meet these new market conditions. It was her hope these changes would bring the highest and best use to this property. Councilmember Fabel stated it was his opinion this was a good and important thing to accomplish. He explained in 2016 when the original plan came through the hope was to have a corporate campus on the thumb property. He reported there has been radical changes since that time. He asked that the City open this area to the maximum possible uses for commercial growth and employment opportunities. He understood it would have been nice to have this done prior to the RFP’s being sent out, but this did not occur. He stated there was a need to dispatch this matter in a timely manner and in no way would this text amendment prejudice the proposals that were coming in. He noted RFP’s would continue to be accepted through July 28. He indicated no harm was caused by the timing of the adoption of the amendment. He reported he would be voting in favor of this as should everyone who wants a successful project. Councilmember Holden indicated the insult from Councilmember Fabel was inappropriate but expected these days. She noted the RFP process could have been pulled and restarted, however this was not done. She reported people may have already bid on this project before all of the land changes were proposed. She supported going through this process properly in order to keep the City out of future litigation. She feared that making a change part of the way through the RFP process did not smell right. She explained she still wished for a very happy and successful project on TCAAP. Mayor Grant stated he agreed with most of the comments. He understood the timing was terrible and he did not like the fact that the terms within the RFP would be changed midstream. He questioned if this change would bring about the highest and best use given the fact dry cleaners and liquor stores would now be allowed. He reported the original vision for this site was a corporate campus that would bring a substantial employment base. He encouraged the Council to not forget about the need to generate jobs within this project. He indicated this property was ideal