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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—APRIL 27, 2026 13 wealth in their home. She feared that the proposed massive zoning change would impact the value of homes and livability in the northern section of the City, where TCAAP looms with 5,000 people being added to the community and North Heights would be adding 1,200. She reported the addition of 6,200 people would be an assault. She recommended action on this item be tabled or denied until there was transparent and unambiguous public scrutiny. She stated she wanted to better understand how northern Arden Hills would be impacted by an additional 6,200 residents. She was irritated by how the County was proposing a roundabout at TCAAP. She asked that the City speak with the County regarding this matter. She was of the opinion this was an ambiguous document, noting northern Arden Hills has 470 townhouses that qualify for purchase assistance and 280 mobile homes that sit near the arsenal site that were low income. She explained Arden Hills also has apartment complexes in the community. She said the proposed document gave too much power to too few. She stated affordability was utter propaganda given that there has been 25% inflation in the last five years. She indicated the State of Minnesota treats taxpayer money with complacency and willful ignorance, which meant the City and its residents will be taxed for those mistakes to the tune of billions of dollars. She recommended this document not move forward until the Council provides transparency and clarity answer the question of affordability for whom and from whom. Lynn Diaz, 1143 Ingerson Road, stated there was a growing housing crisis and half of renters were cost burdened. She encouraged the City to care about the community and help alleviate this problem. She reported of the eight suburbs, the City was considering the weakest and lowest ordinance. She indicated this was very disappointing. She asked that the Council be leaders when it comes to affordable housing. She discussed how Roseville had added 500 affordable units in recent years and Arden Hills has not added a single affordable unit through the three senior housing developments. She encouraged the City Council to ditch the 80%AMI option. She reported teachers could only afford to live in a one-bedroom apartments at 50% AMI and seniors living on a fixed income would fall into the 30% AMI bracket. She recommended the Lexington Avenue corridor be zoned for affordable housing only. She believed this was the perfect location to develop affordable housing at 60% AMI or below. She urged the City to not lose the opportunity to have meaningful affordable housing in Arden Hills. Steve Erler, 1704 Chatham Avenue, stated he was a member of the Planning Commission but was speaking his own opinions. He reported since 2020 the City has added approximately 200 housing units of senior housing in two separate developments. He indicated another development was coming near North Heights Church that would add another 200 units. He commented it was a good thing to be adding new units to the community but he questioned why affordability was not considered within any of these projects. He stated the North Heights developer came before the City last year for a final consideration and the Planning Commission raised the issue of affordable housing. He noted the Planning Commission was advised by the City Attorney that the City had no basis to raise this issue because the City had no ordinance or policy in place to require affordable housing. He appreciated how this ordinance would provide the City with the legal authority to address affordable housing with future developers. He urged the Council to pass this ordinance as recommended by the Planning Commission. Chris Hughes, 1535 Snelling Avenue North, commented it was obvious to him that approving this Ordinance would be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.He supported the City having housing choices that were affordable to families at various income levels. He stated safe, stable and affordable housing provides measurable health and economic benefits for the community. He discussed how service workers, teachers, seniors and other essential personnel were in need of affordable housing in the community. He recommended the City also work to protect the naturally