CC 03-26-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - MARCH 26, 2001 4 Mr. Peter Carlson, Chesapeake Companies, introduced Mr. John Shardlow and Mr. Steve Doughty. He stated they had a very good exchange with the Planning Commission and staff. He noted they have provided input in terms of achieving design and performance standards. He added this gives them a tool with enough definition to say that within these standards they can have confidence the city would look favorably on a plan. He stated this is important to the larger users. He noted there is a lot of planning involved in choosing a site even preliminarily and the large users are reluctant to go through it at all if they are going to lose time. He added there is also a cost investment. He stated the Planning Commission offered good suggestions. He noted they have a few items on which they had a difference of opinion. He added he would like to continue that discussion here. Mayor Probst stated he has a bit of a concern about approving design standards without a plan on the table. He noted his concern that they have not downgraded the standards to allow an unintended outcome. He added this could happen if the applicant does not find a larger user and goes with some other plan. He stated they need to convince him that this could not happen. Mr. Carlson stated this concern was expressed at the Planning Commission as well. He noted they spent three hours in order to have enough specifics to prevent that from happening. He added that is why they have spent so much time discussing site plans, materials, and landscaping. He stated there is that final crucial step the council would have to stop such a project. He noted when they submit the plans for the actual building, final PUD, and building permit, the council would have the control at that time. Mr. John Shardlow stated one good thing about a PUD is the ability to be flexible on zoning. He noted that if they had a specific tenant they were designing for it would be in the mutual interest on both parties to attract that user. He added they have done this many times around the twin cities and other metro communities as well. He stated the Council still has the final development stage at which they would see specific users, plans, and landscaping. Councilmember Larson stated there is not a project yet and he does not feel those guidelines and provisions in anyway bind him. He noted Council, staff, and the Planning Commission would be able to look at a specific project. He added he would guess that the final plan could come back totally different. He stated he shared the concern about it being an envelope. Mr. Shardlow responded he was talking about PUDs working in other communities. He stated the development in Roseville had this same approach. He noted what is important here is that there is a meeting of the minds between the developer and the city on what it wants to see on that site. He added they have discussed every aspect they can think up without a specific plan. He noted the Council is approving the way the signage would be handled, and the materials. He added he is concerned that the city could go back to square one on a specific use. He stated he hopes it is a meeting of the minds so he can go back into the market place and represent this. Councilmember Aplikowski stated one major issue seems to be the height of the building. She noted she does not have a problem with that as long as they are all on the same page.