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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - NOVEMBER 29, 1999 8 3. Fences must blend into the landscape. Wood, brick, stone or wrougbt iron are . encouraged. If chain link is allowed by the City Council, it must have black or dark green vinyl coating. 4. All other requirements of Section VI.E. must be followed. CounciImember Aplikowski stated that she disagreed with the requirement that chain link fences be vinyl coated. She indicated that this was not a requirement anywhere else in the City and she questioned the purpose of the restriction in this Zoning District. Ms. McMonigal explained that aesthetics had been taken into consideration and the intent was to discourage non-decorative fencing. Councilmember Malone pointed out that this was a special restriction that would not necessarily apply to residential areas. He did not see the requirement of vinyl coating chain link fences as a problem since the aesthetics of this Zoning District was important. CounciImember Aplikowski noted that the fencing currently in place on the Army National Guard property was not aesthetically pleasing and would surround the Civic Center District. She asked if the City would have control over this fencing and ifit would be subject to compliance with the Ordinance. Councilmember Malone stated that since the fencing was on the National Guard property, the City would not have control over it. Ms. McMonigal concurred and indicated that the restrictions within the Ordinance would apply to any new construction in the Civic Ccnter District. With regard to building exteriors, Ms. McMonigal indicated that the Ordinance stated exterior . building materials sball be of brick, stone, glass or any combination thereof. The Planning Commission had discussed limiting the percentage of glass to bc used, however, a final decision had not been made and this portion of the Ordinance had not been changed. The Ordinance provided more detail and attention to exterior lighting and required any development proposal to include a lighting plan. Ms. McMonigal highlighted other issues that were raised at the Planning Commission meeting. Under the landscaping and screening special requirements section, item number four required that special attention to screening from roadways must be given. Screening along Highway 96 must be consistent in appearance and materials. Ms. McMonigal noted that the Ordinance did not define what these materials must be in order to be consistent. Additionally, item number five stated that special attention must be given to the Gateway entrances at Highway 96 and Hamline A venue, and at Highway 96 and Lexington A venue as specified in the community gateway study. Ms. McMonigal stated that requirements for consistency may actually be Public Works issues. She was not sure if these requirements should remain a part of the Ordinance, or whether the word consistency should be replaced with a more appropriate term. One other option would be to define the word consistency in the Ordinance. Mayor Probst pointed out that it was likely for tbe new City Hall to be the first development within the Civic Center District. He indicated that this development will establish the baseline for the consistency standards. Although the new City Hall development may not address every . requirement, it will provide a starting point to definc the expectations of the District. Ms. McMonigal agreed that the consistency requirements of the Ordinance will make more sense once the City Hall is constructcd.