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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—JANUARY 8, 2024 15 inquired how this project would be funded and how would it flow. She expressed concern with the fact the Council has held no discussions regarding TCAAP. She noted an open house was being held, but instead of taking feedback, the project was presented as this is how it is. She believed there had been a total lack of transparency on this TCAAP project and there has been no tolerance for the people who do not agree with the three slate candidates. She expressed concern with the fact there was no information available on how the infrastructure would be funded. While she stated she had no problem with the 1,960 number, she recommended that vetting and data be provided to show that this was the right number. She commented on how the Planning Commission Chair had paid dearly by raising questions about the 1,960 number as he was no longer the Chair. She stated she would not be offering her support to the 1,960 number until it was properly vetted. Mayor Grant stated as this project started out this past year, it was put out there that the Council needed to compromise. He was of the opinion the City did not compromise, but rather the City capitulated. He understood the County supported the proposal, which was a good thing. He did not believe the County was asked to compromise, but he wouldn't know any of this because all of the meetings were held behind closed doors and he wasn't allowed to attend. He was told at one point that he could attend and upon trying to attend, he was told he could not attend. Mayor Grant commented on how 2024 would be the year when people are asked to go back to work. He understood that the pandemic led to many people working from home, but noted the pendulum was going to swing back the other direction. He discussed the parks plan that was previously completed. He understood the Council was being asked to consider zoning changes, but noted there were other aspects of this project that were not working, such as the financials. He reported one of the plans was to ask the State to chip in $25 million for this project. He stated this may happen, but this may not. He explained at this time, the financials for this project were not good. Mayor Grant stated he understood the 1,960 units was a rallying cry and people wanted to see this project done. He noted there was some value in this. However, he supported the City looking before leaping, or properly vetting this project before moving it forward. He indicated it was hard to visualize 1,960 units on this piece of property. He stated this was a lot of units on 190 acres. He noted this would lead to approximately 10 units per acre throughout the development. He explained this project would not resemble Arden Hills, but rather would look like a small version of St. Paul. He believed the residents of Arden Hills moved to this community because they wanted to have some space. Mayor Grant indicated 1,960 may be the right number, but he did not have this information. He commented on how other uses or zoning changes could have been considered in order to protect jobs within the development. He discussed how this project was not slated to begin until 2026, at which time grading and infrastructure would be completed. Mayor Grant explained a comp plan amendment was being proposed and generally these amendments required four votes, except if 20% affordable housing was within the proposed changes. He noted the matter before the Council only required three votes. He stated after speaking with public safety individuals he had concerns with the amount of high density housing being proposed within this development. He was pleased to see the AMI would be at least 60%. He reiterated that he did not believe this project was properly vetted and he wanted to protect the City from a poorly designed, poorly planned project from a risk perspective.