08-07-2023 JDA Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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also creating a land use and comprehensive plan for TCAAP. She hoped that this summary would help clarify what the City has been doing to prepare TCAAP for development. Linda Swanson, 1124 Ingerson Road, asked Commissioner Fabel to be transparent with respect to the JDA Advisory Committee meetings. She reported this was a unique committee that would be guiding the development of TCAAP and these meetings should be allowed to be seen by all residents. She asked that this committee not remain hidden because this was not transparent. Donna Weiman, 1406 Arden View Drive, indicated it has been stated Ramsey County’s finances have changed in the last few years. She explained she would like to better understand how the County’s finances have changed and what are the reasons. She also wanted to understand what these changes mean for TCAAP and the citizens of Arden Hills. She questioned if a redevelopment director had been selected for this project. She understood the County wanted 15,000 deeply affordable housing units in Ramsey County. She requested the County provide what this income level would be for a family of four. She stated up to 740 more units were being considered for TCAAP and she inquired how this would be accommodated on the TCAAP site. She asked when the County would provide the proposed development terms to Arden Hills. She believed it was reasonable that a draft timeline was known and she believed the citizens of Arden Hills should know this too. Kathy Sukke, 1286 Karth Lake Circle, was of the opinion this committee was stacked at its reemergence by the City and beyond. She stated it was nice that Commissioner Frethem was able to attend these meetings after skipping mediation. She expressed concern with the fact Commissioner Frethem was interested in a density of 2500 units on TCAAP. She feared that Chair Wicklund replacing a citizen of Arden Hills was stacking the deck in favor of the slate. She expressed concern with the fact Commissioner Fabel and Commissioner Frethem were meeting with the developer without these meetings being open to the public. She indicated this does not bode well for Arden Hills. She feared the slate members (Councilmembers Rousseau, Monson and Fabel) were breaking open meeting laws by having an agenda approved before the Council meetings, thus blocking anything that gets in the way of their group think. She stated there is no transparency when it comes to this project and no use of existing insight when it comes to this complicated business. She believed the 8,000 residents of Arden Hills deserved better. She urged the JDA and City Council to begin respecting the taxpayers and citizens of Arden Hills. She recommended an audit function be put in place for each of the critical areas of this project in order to consider the viability of this project. She recommended all future communication with the public be open, timely and honest, not buried in a website. She recommended open houses and public comments be taken before this project moves forward. She suggested an accurate and current traffic study be completed including North Heights and newer developments surrounding TCAAP. She requested the JDA not ruin Arden Hills the way Roseville has been ruined. She discussed how the push for density was four years too late and reiterated that a judge ruled in favor of the City. She did not want to see lousy dense housing on TCAAP as a make up to Ramsey County. She was of the opinion 1200 to 1300 units would be appropriate and livable on TCAAP and would not strain the residents of Arden Hills. She