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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — OCTOBER 13, 2025 13 Councilmember Weber asked if the sizes in that area were researched when the thrift store discussion happened. City Administrator Jagoe said the Arden Plaza spaces were. That's why 7,000 is the known size. She just checked and The Tavern is 8,500 square feet. Community Development Director Reilly said a small-scale grocery store like an Aldi or Trader Joes are usually between 15,000 and 17,000 square feet. It sounds like Council may be interested in allowing something about that size and anything bigger would be a conditional use process. He suggested permitted if it's below 15,000 square feet and conditional use permit if it's over that. Councilmember Holden wouldn't want to lose a big vacant area. She thinks a 15,000 square foot space is easier to fill. Ms. Trapp said the current use table for mortuary or funeral homes states permitted with standards for B-3 and B-4. She has never set standards for a mortuary or funeral home. If it's permitted with standards, what are we concerned about that we are crafting standards for? Conditional use permit lets us think about what those concerns are and address them with the CUP. If it's permitted with standards you have to be proactive in identifying those standards. Councilmember Holden clarified this would not include a crematorium. Ms. Trapp confirmed. Councilmember Holden said our standards should be higher, we want it to look nice. Mayor Grant agrees. Ms. Trapp sought clarity that Council is saying this use needs to look nicer than the next door use even though they are in the same district and even though they are providing a service. Mayor Grant confirmed. Councilmember Weber doesn't support that. It's a business and they will do their best to make it look nice. Do we want permitted with standards or just permitted. Mayor Grant said permitted with standards. Relative to the standards we say upgraded building materials. Councilmember Holden doesn't know what the materials are. We haven't seen them. Ms. Trapp said building materials discussion is coming later. She asked for confirmation that the standard we are concerned about is aesthetics. Councilmember Holden said traffic and parking. Councilmember Rousseau said placing a mortuary or funeral home on Lexington is unappealing to her.