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-ARQEN_HILLS <br />Approved: November 27, 2023 <br />[DRAFT <br />CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA <br />SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION <br />NOVEMBER 2, 2023 <br />5:30 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS <br />CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL <br />Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Grant called to order the City Council <br />Work Session at 5:30 p.m. <br />Present: Mayor David Grant; Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Emily Rousseau, <br />Tena Monson and Tom Fabel <br />Absent: None <br />Also present: City Administrator Dave Perrault, Public Works Director/City Engineer <br />David Swearingen, Community Development Director Jessica Jagoe, Alatus Principal Bob <br />Lux, Tradition Homes Representative Todd Stutz <br />1. PUBLIC INQUIRIESANFORMATIONAL <br />Mary Henry, 3521 Ridgewood Court read a statement from Kristy Jacobs, 1492 Arden Place <br />West. Ms. Jacobs was strongly in favor of increasing the number of housing units in Rice Creek <br />Commons to 1,960. She wanted to see people of all income levels have the privilege of a safe <br />home. Providing for neighbors makes a more economically resilient, safer, healthier and diverse <br />community, it is a win -win. <br />Mary Henry, 3521 Ridgewood Court continued with her own statement. She was in support of <br />the proposed goal of 1,960 units. She felt reason points to changing the development plan to <br />include more housing and less office space. She provided a Bloomberg News article to the <br />Council, that states our metro area was the first to drop below a 2% inflation rate in May, which <br />they attributed to more housing development here. More housing creates community and <br />improves our economic outlook. <br />Gregg Larson, 3373 North Snelling Avenue said he wanted to contrast what they know and don't <br />know about Rice Creek Commons density numbers, in particular the density number that was <br />advocated by the City in the past and the newly proposed number of 1,960. They lack any <br />evidence or documentation that more than those housing units would be detrimental to the well- <br />being of the city due to demonstrable financial or environmental harm, or that more housing units <br />would result in adverse traffic impacts. What they do know is the housing units in the past proved <br />unacceptable to Ramsey County during lengthy negotiations on a master development agreement. <br />