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<br /> ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION - FEBRUARY 2, 2005 II <br />. things they had to balance was to make this project economically feasible and there <br /> would be probably be some public financing of the project. He stated this plan would <br /> offer a wide variety of housing types that might or might not be available in the City. He <br /> stated this plan would be different than the rest of the community, but it would offer a <br /> high-end of architectural detail. He noted they have assumed densities below what he <br /> would call normal development standards. He stated the densities would be higher than <br /> the current comprehensive plan, but it would be lower than the surrounding communities. <br /> He noted the density discussion would come back to the Planning Commission for their <br /> thoughts and recommendations which would be given to the City Council. <br /> Commissioner Holmes stated she could not support this Resolution because it did not <br /> follow the vision goals of the TCAAP vision with respect to open space, regional parks, <br /> and traffic. She noted the amenities are all in the northern part of the area, which would <br /> not benefit any of the residents on the south side of the City. She stated she wanted more <br /> passive open space. <br /> Commissioner Zimmerman stated they were looking at a compressed picture of what <br /> things would look like. If they would actually get a concept of what this looked like, it <br /> was designed with a lot of open space and he believed met the goals of the area set forth <br /> previously. He stated he would support the Resolution, and as it was currently <br /> confignred it was an excellent rendition of what a large majority of the people in the City <br /> wanted. <br />. Commissioner Modesette stated she liked the fact that they were speaking to things that <br /> would change and they had to keep in mind that things could change a lot. She stated she <br /> agreed this site needed to start out as a high quality concept. She stated as they looked at <br /> the details, she also had some concerns that the high quality would make it so unique that <br /> it would become exclusive. She stated it was important to her that the end result should <br /> represent the normal fabric of society and not become too out of the ordinary. <br /> Mayor Aplikowski stated the goal was to provide jobs and homes for the people in the <br /> area and that was why they were proposing the mixed use. She noted there would be <br /> higher density, but they wanted the people who lived to also wOIk there. She stated the <br /> transportation pattern had always been a challenge on this piece from the beginning. She <br /> indicated the road would need to be looked at again and again before any definite <br /> decisions were made. She stated they had not abandoned the neighborhood park concept <br /> and there were pockets of green space. <br /> Commissioner Holmes stated she did not understand why Ramsey County had obtained <br /> their land and did not need to develop it while the City was going to acquire the land and <br /> have it all developed. She believed this area needed a substantial amount of green space. <br /> Mayor Aplikowski replied the City could not afford to not develop the land. <br /> Mr. Clark noted there would be many acres to the east that would remain open space. <br /> Commissioner Holmes noted the east was not available to the City. <br />. Mr. Clark stated the principal of the Vento plan was that they recognize that there would <br /> be development on this property, but a significant portion of this property would remain <br /> open. He stated the majority of the rest of this property would remain open space in <br /> perpetuity. <br /> ------------------------ <br />