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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – NOVEMBER 13, 2023 5 Community Development Director Jagoe reported in the retail mixed use, office mixed use and flex office, retail sales and service was an allowed use, which included big box retail. Councilmember Monson questioned why big box was a concern for the City. Mayor Grant stated he wanted to see the best and highest uses within this development, which did not include big box or warehouses, especially consider the fact the project lost 32 acres of flex office space. Councilmember Monson requested the analysis for the 1,960 units include information on what this project would look like and how the City could work to bring in smaller retail. Community Development Director Jagoe stated if there are other changes, beyond going from flex office to neighborhood residential district, this direction should be provided from the City Council because this information would have to identified within the public hearing notice. Councilmember Rousseau indicated she was in favor of having the smaller retail and mixed uses. She reported if this model were followed, she wondered where a larger grocery store could be located. Councilmember Monson reported a lot of the big box retailers now offer groceries. Councilmember Holden explained the Council fought for the small portion of red (retail) near County Road 96 because the developer did not want retail in this area. She supported more retail being placed in this area of the development in order to create more jobs. Councilmember Fabel indicated what the Council was discussing had potential dire consequences. He discussed how the flexibility within the current zoning plan would be compromised if changes were made. He explained the governance of this property rests with the JDA and the JDA supports a zoning plan with flexibility. He reported the JDA will continue to work within this plan with the best interests in mind. He stated the only change that has been made by the JDA was the decision that there should be more residential space/density. He explained all of the other zoning decisions were to remain as is. He did not support the Council getting involved in additional zoning modifications, other than those that were approved by the JDA. Mayor Grant thanked Councilmember Fabel for his comments. He reported the City did not give up its zoning authority to the County or the JDA. He stated the City was still responsible for zoning and if this map changes in any way, this would be a City initiated project that the Council votes on and is brought to the Met Council for consideration. He clarified that the JDA cannot make changes to the zoning within the City without the Council’s consent. He asked if the Council could make changes to the zoning map prior to this item going to the Met Council. Community Development Director Jagoe reported she would want to look at the future land use designations under the Comp Plan to better understand how they are guided.