09-08-25-R - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — AUGUST 11, 2025 6 Councilmember Holden said it was a big red flag for her to just allow Staff to approve a Planned Unit Development (PUD). She said that is when the City is allowed to get something above and beyond, from the developer. If we allow applicants to just go through the process and let Staff make decisions we won't get a sidewalk or playground like we got from the Senior Center. We won't get extra land that can be made into the park. That is the opportunity for the City Council, who represents the community, to get what we need, in addition to the PUD. Jason Zimmerman said that characterization is not how it was intended. The only suggestion is after a PUD has been approved and there are minor amendments that need to be made, that is when Staff would have control. A PUD would be a full public hearing process before Planning Commission and City Council for both the preliminary and final PUD. That is when the "above and beyond" items Council wants to include would be during that process. Councilmember Holden said that the first paragraph on page 3 is misleading. City Administrator Jagoe said the consultants did a great job of presenting at the Planning Commission that through the PUD we may be able to add language in the ordinance that says what the flexibilities that Staff may seek, may be. The ordinance can be clearer to developers about what we'll be looking for. Councilmember Holden wouldn't want it listed because you never know until you see each individual concept plan. Councilmember Rousseau read that paragraph as some minor changes may be approved administratively. Jason Zimmerman pointed out a handout that include examples of the kinds of public benefit. They can be specific, but it can also be open ended. We want developers to understand what our priorities are. If affordable housing is important, we should put it on the list. If we want sustainable development, that should be outlined and it can help guide developers as they prepare their proposals. It doesn't have to be a definitive list. It's more a guide to developers to prepare a proposal that will be what is right for the City. That is the broader beauty of what the public benefit discussion is about. Councilmember Weber agrees with the idea of listing what the City is looking for, generally in PUDs. That doesn't limit us to just that list, it just gives applicants a better idea of what the City is looking for before they come in. He thought we can identify what the PUD amendments, that could be approved by Staff, might be. Jason Zimmerman said they have done that with other cities. The list may include changing the landscaping plan that still meets what the zoning typically requires but is different than what was in the approved PUD. Another example is they want to change the parking lot layout, but not change the count of parking spaces. Councilmember Weber said it isn't adding a variance or anything. It will all be within the scope of the existing zoning code. For example, if someone wanted to place directional signs on a business complex.