Laserfiche WebLink
ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – December 4, 2024 12 <br /> <br />Interim City Administrator Jagoe indicated the Planning Commission could recommend <br />denial of the project for reasons it was not consistent with the goals of the comprehensive plan, <br />or the Commission could put forth a recommendation for approval without flexibility in certain <br />areas of the project. <br /> <br />Commissioner Bjorklund stated he has been talking to a gentleman from North Heights <br />Lutheran Church for years about this project and how low income housing should be a factor. <br />He personally talked to the developer, months ago, about the same issue. Nothing has been <br />brought up about it. He doesn’t want them to say they were never told. They were told by him, <br />personally and he will sign an affidavit to verify that, with dates from his personal notes. <br /> <br />Commissioner Collins reported the comprehensive plan was explicit when it came to low <br />income housing and this was something that should be taken into consideration. He believed <br />there was something missing from this development and noted he would be leaning towards not <br />supporting this project. <br /> <br />Commissioner Wicklund stated he appreciated the comments about the desire to follow the <br />comprehensive plan, but it was his opinion this would do a disservice to an outside business that <br />was coming into this situation. He reported casting this expectation on their business model near <br />the end of the process was burdensome. He was of the opinion staff has heard the concerns of the <br />Commission and as new developments come forward considerations will be made. He stated he <br />would be supporting this project moving forward, with the understanding the Planning <br />Commission was a recommending body to the City Council. <br /> <br />Commissioner Collins indicated his difficulty with this was that this was an outside business <br />and the affordable housing units could benefit the residents of Arden Hills. He questioned if this <br />project should benefit the outside business or the residents of Arden Hills. <br /> <br />Chair Weber stated this was going on year for of this project and he was of the opinion the <br />developer had slow rolled this project intentionally. He explained he would not feel guilty about <br />the applicant now being in a position for the manner in which this project was presented to the <br />City. He commented on how the need for affordable housing has grown over the past two or <br />three years. <br /> <br />Commissioner Blilie reported even if these units were not affordable, if seniors in the <br />community moved to them, it would open up single family houses in Arden Hills. <br /> <br />Chair Weber stated he understood this to be the case, but noted the existing senior rental units <br />within the community were not full and he did not believe it was in the City’s best interest to <br />build more of the same. <br /> <br />Commissioner Collins explained if this building were to move forward, these types of <br />developments would pull tenants from the surrounding communities as well. <br /> <br />Chair Weber reported this was a tax exempt property that does not pay property taxes. He <br />indicated the City could add an enormous amount of affordable housing to this site without <br />impacting the City’s bottom line, and there would still be a net positive for the community. <br /> <br />Mr. Fink stated he was not opposed to having affordable units on this property. He indicated <br />when he brought forward concepts, the concept has explained the units were intended to be