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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — APRIL 27, 2026 6 <br />Mr. Mazzitello said the amendment request is for Rice Creek Boulevard <br />Councilmember Monson said if we are going through a TRC amendment process and trail lighting <br />is not already required, we should bundle that requirement so it's just one amendment. <br />Mayor Grant said that Council is being asked to recommend Planning Commission review. He <br />believes they have the feedback they were seeking in regards to Rice Creek Parkway. <br />Discussion ensued that the JDA may want to discuss trail lighting, in general. This amendment is <br />timely because we're 80% into the design stage of Rice Creek Parkway. This needs to be decided <br />now. Further discussion ensued that the reduction in streetlighting doesn't impact the trails. Council <br />would like to have a discussion on trail lighting. <br />Councilmember Holden said this was Ramsey County's project and we assumed they would want <br />lighting on their trail. The HOAs and downtown include lighting. This may be a moot point. <br />Councilmember Weber said the county has stated at the JDA meetings that the county doesn't <br />typically light its trails. <br />Mayor Grant said Rice Creek Commons is going to be a step above. He doesn't want it to look <br />like a rural county road with lights every 250 feet. He said 40 feet is excessive. We want it to be lit <br />and look community oriented. <br />Mr. Mazzitello said the design speed of the road plays a factor. The slower the road, the closer the <br />lights get. We will light this appropriately, according to the MnDOT manual it's just not going to <br />be 40 feet. They aren't specifying a number. <br />Mr. Fosmo said the MnDOT Roadway Lighting Design guide is for if a roadway is lit. Rural <br />highways won't be lit. Those roadways only have lighting at intersections. The design standard we <br />will apply is for fully lit corridors. <br />Mayor Grant said his point is if they added 2 or 3 more on each side of that one -mile stretch, it <br />presents to people that that this is special. <br />Mr. Mazzitello said this is a county road but ultimately they will build what the JDA wants them <br />to build. <br />Councilmember Rousseau said there is a corridor where there is a lot trees, which is great, but she <br />would probably walk in the street at night vs. that corridor where others couldn't see what is <br />happening. She would recommend they look at the lighting in that area. She was expecting <br />something more for this trail and is a little underwhelmed with what is happening here. <br />Mr. Mazzitello clarified the images they are sharing are conceptual renderings, not final designs. <br />Discussion ensued that St. Anthony Parkway was reviewed as a comparison, however the spacing <br />on that road is 70 feet. The design manual will be used rather than picking a hard number. When <br />the design speed and lighting requirements are evaluated, the number will be determined. The <br />Planning Commission will be made aware of this so they won't be misled. <br />