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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – MARCH 10, 2025 3 Antionette Wilwerding, 120 East Demont Avenue in Little Canada, stated all of the businesses in the mall were service-oriented, including Odds and Ends. She discussed how Odds and Ends works to help seniors and their families at a difficult time in their lives. She requested the City work with Odds and Ends in order to remain open and available to the public. Anne Hall, 4276 Norma Avenue, urged the Council to support and facilitate a zoning variance for Odds and Ends. She reported this small business fulfills a need in the community and has strong community support. She noted this business moved back to Arden Hills several months back and focused on consignment. She explained the business was being asked to vacate their space due to a technical City Code zoning requirement. She stated Odds and Ends was a unique store that will bring value to the community by offering seniors an important downsizing service while also offering a vintage shop option for residents of Arden Hills . She commented on how the patrons at Odds and Ends will greatly benefit the surrounding businesses. She stated this was a unique small business that would assist with building a strong economy in Arden Hills. She asked that the City Council to work in good faith with the owner of Odds and Ends in order to keep this small business in the community. Brian Kraft, 1790 West County Road E in New Brighton, explained he was a manufacturing rep for businesses in the home furnishings industry. He discussed how overseas goods came into the country and were not always the highest of quality. He spoke to how Odds and Ends was providing a place for quality home furnishings to be resold, which benefited the community because these items were sold at an affordable price. He asked that the City work with Odds and Ends as this was a quality small business in Arden Hills. Allie Tempelis, 4935 Hanson Road in Shoreview, stated she started working at Odds and Ends last month. She noted she used to own Lexington Floral in Shoreview. She commented on how important small businesses were to the community by creating jobs, creating community and drawing people in from other cities. She urged the Council to consider what can be done to help Odds and Ends remain in Arden Hills. Councilmember Weber commented he formally requested the Council take on the zoning amendment process and direct staff to explore all available options regarding the current City Code restrictions. He reported in 2016, the City Council amended the zoning code to prohibit thrift stores from the B-2 zoning district. He indicated this restriction was now creating a challenge for a business in the B-2 district. He discussed how B-4 was not the proper district for retail and thrift stores. He supported the Council taking another look at the restrictions that were put in place and that this item be placed on the next Planning Commission agenda for recommendation to the City Council. He stated he wanted an opinion from the City Attorney and recommended closure of the thrift store be delayed. Councilmember Monson stated the Council discussed this topic at the work session. She explained she supported City Code serving the community and not hindering it. She believed the business owner put himself in a tough position and this has created additional hurdles for the City Council. She also believed this was a use that the public wanted in the community. She indicated she wanted to see this business in a location where it could be successful. She supported working through an ordinance to allow thrift/consignment in the B-2 zoning district. She thanked staff for holding the line and for dealing with a lot of rude behavior from the public. She stated she would support the City Council considering an ordinance amendment.