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<br /> ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - NOVEMBER 29, 1999 9 <br /> . With regard to building setbacks, Ms. McMonigal stated that the Ordinance required a 60-foot <br /> setback from State Highways or County Roads. The building setbacks from State Highways or <br /> County Roads are measured from roadway easement line, rather than the center of the road. She <br /> added that the new City Hall will bc setback 60- feet from the roadway. <br /> With regard to parking setbacks, the Ordinance stated that parking between the front of the <br /> building and the roadway is not permitted. Ms. McMonigal stated that this issue had been <br /> discussed by the Planning Commission and the intent was for buildings to be set closer to the <br /> streets, with no parking lots between the streets and buildings, for a downtown effect. The <br /> parking would be along side, or to the rear of the building. The Ordinance would require a 20- <br /> foot building setback from the roadways to allow some green space between the roadways and <br /> the buildings. <br /> Ms. McMonigal stated that the Planning Commission had discussed two separate sets of <br /> development standards, downtown and traditional. The downtown standards allowed reduced <br /> setbacks for buildings to bring the buildings closer to the front. Lot sizes and minimum <br /> landscape lot area in the downtown standards were reduced and the lot covered by structure was <br /> increased. The Planning Commission had recommended the downtown set of development <br /> standards, with some modifications. <br /> Mayor Probst stated that he had some conflicts with what was being accomplished. He indicated <br /> . that the proposal was for more of a town center development with two or three story buildings <br /> containing commercial on the first floor and residential on the upper floors. This seemed to him <br /> to be a down-sizing of the suburban model, not an urban town center model. He asked if other <br /> urban centers, such as Celebration, had been studied. <br /> Ms. McMonigal stated that, although she had visited Celebration, other urban centers had not <br /> been given a great deal of study. She had discussed with staff and the Planning Commission that <br /> the next step should be for additional study on the actual model of a downtown area. It was her <br /> belief that the City should take the time to consider items such as setbacks and the layout of the <br /> streets <br /> Mr. Post noted that steps to tinalize this portion of the Civic Center Zoning District were not <br /> timc critical since the Army National Guard will control the majority of the property for several <br /> years. Additionally, the only immediate uses that were proposed were the City Hall and the <br /> Ramsey County Public Works facility and the actual Civic Center area may be more of a long <br /> term vision. <br /> Mayor Probst concurred. With regard to the previous concern of prohibited uses, he indicated <br /> that the immediate projects which will occur within the next couple of years will deal with the <br /> issues that have been discussed. He indicated that it was likely issues will arise with Ramsey <br /> County regarding outdoor storage. <br /> . If the intent of the Civic Center Zoning District was to create a town center atmosphere, it will <br /> need to include active, vital pedestrian triendly spaces. In order to accomplish this, the <br />