02-09-2026-WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — FEBRUARY 9, 2026 13 Councilmember Holden said she would like that to be specifically referenced to avoid confusion. Councilmember Weber said love it. Ship it. Councilmember Monson said the memo outlines inclusionary housing, zoning code reforms, reduce required parking and selectively increase maximum densities. She is concerned that we aren't at market with our density requirements today and we need to fix that. Is that what this section is about or something that has to go through HKGi? Community Development Director Reilly said the zoning code consultants were not asked to address density in their rewrite. However, we have the opportunity to do it because we are in the middle of revising things. Councilmember Monson asked if Staff would recommend we go through the consultants or do it here? Community Development Director Reilly said the most cost-effective way would be for Council to talk through it and we can incorporate into those edits as they move through that process. Councilmember Monson asked if there is a risk to slowing down the consultant's process by us adding things in. City Administrator Jagoe said the timing of it is possible. She is trying to move the accessory dwelling unit discussion to the March Work Session. She thought if Director Reilly can pull something together to talk about densities, we can do that in parallel. However, she can't speak to this evening to his availability to pull both topics together by the March meeting. Councilmember Monson wants us to have a realistic density so we can get housing here. She also knows someone is trying to come in and wants 167 units. She doesn't think this will be in place before that application comes in, but she's paying attention to it. The affordable housing fund is a recommendation. She noted in the memo it states, "civil penalties and damages collected under this ordinance shall be deposited into the housing trust fund and used exclusively for affordable housing programs and initiatives." Community Development Director Reilly said that was supposed to be removed until we can have the conversation about the affordable housing fund. Discussion ensued on how additional density can be calculated over the base amount on different housing development types. Further discussion ensued, and examples were given, regarding the development proposed tonight and other re -developable locations in the city. Mayor Grant said he is sensitive to developers being able to develop in Arden Hills on property that is expensive, while at the same time trying to push the levels of affordability that limit their ability to pencil out. He has no problem with 80% AMI on 10% of the units. Councilmember Rousseau likes the options outlined in the packet. She wondered if a housing redevelopment authority maps out the key areas where they anticipate housing will come up as an option.