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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — AUGUST 11, 2025 2 Vishal Dutt introduced himself. He would love to do a project in Arden Hills. He introduced his Architect, Michael Kunz to share the vision for the site. Michael Kunz provided his professional background. He is familiar with the area and he understands this is a prime site to build a multi -family housing development. This would be a nice development and would compete with the new units in Shoreview. It has a lot of density. Parking is interior, for the most part. There are 169 parking spaces for 105 units. This would be a three- story building. Vishal Dutt shared where he recently completed similar projects and encouraged Council to look up his project list. The amenities include fitness room, work from home space, lounge and club room. It is a work, live and play concept. These types of projects do well. He asked if Council had any feedback for him on this concept. City Administrator Jagoe said this is a preliminary concept review. They would still need to bring forward architectural renderings and go through the full concept review. There are zoning code changes and comprehensive plan amendments required for this project to move forward. There may be other flexibilities needed on landscaping, site build out and architectural building standards. She asked Senior Planner Fransen to discuss the zoning code and comprehensive plan changes that would need to happen before the project can be advanced for a full concept review. Senior Planner Fransen said an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan would be required for this project. This site is not guided for multi -family dwellings. The Comprehensive Plan would need to be updated to allow residential use on this site. Density would need to be established for that guiding, potentially increasing the density that is allowed. There could also be requests for flexibility for the floor area ratios that are currently referenced in the Comprehensive Plan. This site is in the B-3 Zoning district which does not allow for multi -family residential use so a zoning code would need to be amended to allow for that and a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) may be required for multi -family dwelling use, which is a requirement for other zoning districts where multi -family dwelling uses are allowed. Councilmember Rousseau thanked the presenters for their interest in the Pace Site. She sees that site daily and knows something better can be built there. She loves the idea of putting housing in this location. This Council has expressed an interest in reviewing the ordinance for affordable housing, as a requirement. She wondered if that is something that would be included on this site. She asked what demographic the presenter would expect. There have been a lot of 55+ housing. Her friend who is in her 70s said she wouldn't want to be segregated like that. Vishal Dutt said the concept would be market rate apartments. The tenants are mostly singles who are just getting out of college and twenty -somethings. There are families and older individuals, as well. But the demographic is going to be 25-60. There is a mix of floor plans. There are studios, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom units. Pets are allowed. These wouldn't be restricted to 55+. Councilmember Rousseau asked if they have considered an open space where there are individual rooms where they share a common space. Maybe three singles move in together, sharing one space. Vishal Dutt said they could get a 3-bedroom unit. He thinks she is talking about student housing.