02-09-2026-WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — FEBRUARY 9, 2026 15 Someone can pick the unit they want and if they are income qualified they pay the income qualified rate, if not, they pay the standard market rate. Mayor Grant said he doesn't think any two developments will ever be the same. In a PUD environment the developer can ask for concessions on density or affordability. He asked if that was correct. Community Development Director Reilly said yes, unless there is a minimum density that can't be met. The underlying zoning still applies. We would have to do something to allow for the increase in density. Mayor Grant said a PUD enables flexibility for both the developer and the city. Community Development Director Reilly said for everything except for the number of units per acre. Mayor Grant said everything else can be negotiated. Community Development Director Reilly confirmed. Mayor Grant said if a developer is doing 167 units, why would they not make it a PUD? Community Development Director Reilly said many cities don't allow them. Mayor Grant said he wants that to be an option. Councilmember Monson said the reason we are having this conversation is because we have specifically been told that we can't ask for affordable housing in exchange for density, unless it's in our ordinance. She asked if the drafted material today is middle of the road, is it aggressive? Community Development Director Reilly said he went towards the more aggressive side. Councilmember Monson assumes that will hold them to higher standards. They will have to do more if they want to get more. She wants to have this but she doesn't want it to be super aggressive. She would like to see it be more middle of the road. She doesn't want it to be so restrictive that they just go to a different city. She asked if this is ready to move on and be reviewed'by the planning commission. She asked if Director Reilly needs anything else from Council before he feels it's ready for that review. She would like to move this to the planning commission quickly because she thinks it may take them more than one meeting to discuss. Councilmember Holden agrees the policy should be middle of the road. She asked what staff would change in the information provided to make it a little less aggressive. She said this is just the base. We can still demand more as part of a PUD. Community Development Director Reilly confirmed. It's all negotiable. If we want this to go to the Planning Commission in March, he would want to send it there with at least a 7.5% minimum number of units for low income and workforce housing. Councilmember Holden asked how increasing the lower income at 50% to 7.5% impacts it?