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cityofardenhills.org • March 2024 • 1 <br />The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents March 2024 <br />Mister Car Wash <br />On February 12, 2024, the City <br />Council approved a redevelopment <br />project from CWP West, LLC, for the <br />property located at 3751 Lexington <br />Avenue N. This site was a former <br />Arby’s restaurant, which closed in <br />2023 and will be demolished as part <br />of the project scope. In its place <br />will be a new Mister Car Wash with <br />an approximate 5,400 square foot <br />single-story drive-through conveyor- <br />type express car wash with self- <br />service vacuums. <br />Mister Car Wash operates over <br />460 locations across 21 states, <br />33 of which are open or under <br />development in Minnesota. Mister <br />Car Wash prides itself on being good <br />stewards of the environment with <br />innovations, including proprietary <br />cleaning products free of phosphates <br />and dyes and using over 50% <br />reclaimed/recycled water within the <br />wash process. <br />Through the Planned Unit <br />Development review process, the <br />City Council granted flexibility on the <br />building positioning for efficiency and <br />safety in site circulation, screening <br />to allow the use of a higher quality <br />maintenance-free composite fence <br />material, and signage, including the <br />allowance of internal illumination. <br />Construction is anticipated to begin <br />this spring, with a potential grand <br />opening in early 2025. Updates, <br />including the start of construction, <br />will be posted on the City’s website <br />as they become available. <br />The City is exploring financing <br />options to fund existing and future <br />capital project needs. These <br />projects may include street and trail <br />projects, equipment purchases, <br />public safety costs, etc. <br />There will be a resident meeting <br />at City Hall on Saturday, April <br />20, from 10-11 a.m., with a brief <br />15-minute presentation at 10:15. <br />All residents and businesses are <br />invited to learn and hear about <br />upcoming needs and the different <br />options being considered. The <br />two primary options under <br />consideration are increased <br />property tax levies on property <br />owners or instituting a franchise <br />fee administered by Xcel Energy <br />through utility bills. Franchise <br />fees are fees added to customers’ <br />utility bills, which are collected <br />by Xcel and remitted to the City. <br />The fees are not related to actual <br />energy or power consumption, but <br />are in-addition to Xcel’s fees. The <br />City is able to charge these fees to <br />Xcel for allowing Xcel to utilize our <br />Right of Way for their electric and <br />gas infrastructure. These fees are <br />common amongst cities and help <br />to provide an additional revenue <br />source for cities, thereby reducing <br />pressures on property taxes. <br />For residents unable to attend <br />the meeting, a survey with the <br />presentation will be posted on the <br />City’s website in the coming weeks. <br />We look forward to seeing and <br />hearing from you on April 20. <br />Developer rendering submitted by Mister Car Wash. <br />City Seeks Resident Feedback on Future Capital Financing Options