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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – May 7, 2025 5 Commissioner Birken questioned if it would be in the City’s best interest to approve the item with the staff recommended conditions. Commissioner Bjorklund was of the opinion the Findings of Fact and normal permitting process would address all concerns and the additional conditions were unnecessarily burdensome. Chair Collins asked staff to respond to this statement. Senior Planner Fransen explained the conditions were drafted by staff to offer clarifying information to the Applicant. She indicated the Planning Commission may include the conditions. The Applicant would continue with their process and working with staff through the building permit application. Chair Collins questioned if it would be fair to say the applicant would be addressing Conditions 1 through 11 automatically by proceeding through this process and staff was offering granular information. Senior Planner Fransen stated these conditions offer specificity to portions of City Code and offer more granular information for the applicant. She reported with variances, additional conditions could be added. Commissioner Bjorklund inquired the applicant was a pillar of the community and would be remaining in the City. He was of the opinion the proposed conditions were overburdensome. Commissioner Jacobson stated she disagreed with Commissioner Bjorklund, and she wanted to see the conditions remain in the variance approval. She believed it was important for the City to make sure the applicant was aware of the clear path. Commissioner Erler indicated he was sympathetic to Commissioner Bjorklund’s position and he did not want to make approvals overburdensome. However, with this case, he supported keeping the conditions in place. Commissioner Birken agreed stating clarity for the applicant was a good thing. Chair Collins supported the conditions remaining in place. Commissioner Jacobson moved and Commissioner Birken seconded a motion to recommend approval of Planning Case 25-002 for a Variance to construct a new single- family swelling with a 31.9 foot side yard setback on a corner lot at 3609 Pascal Avenue North on the findings of fact and the submitted plans, as amended by the conditions in the May 7, 2025, report to the Planning Commission. Commissioner Bjorklund stated he was trying to make government less burdensome and he was of the opinion the conditions were not necessary. The motion carried 5-0-1 (Commissioner Burlingame abstained). B. Planning Case 25-003 – Zoning Code Amendment to Chapter 13, Thrift Store Use – Public Hearing Required