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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION – MARCH 25, 2026 3 <br />Commissioner Bonine asked how the conversations start. He wondered if we are actively seeking <br />conversations. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Reilly said this is a large multinational corporation trying to <br />get rid of real estate that it can’t use. The gentleman from Airtopia reached out to City Staff. <br />Director Reilly and City Administrator Jagoe were able to meet him on site. He followed up with <br />information on next steps if they choose to move forward. <br /> <br />Commissioner Bonine said if we get Instagram he wondered if we can advertise locations like <br />this where the city wants to encourage new businesses to come to Arden Hills. He has some ideas <br />on how to engage the owners of these vacant buildings to encourage them to bring businesses in. <br />Having vacant buildings doesn’t benefit the building owner or the city. He can see how promoting <br />these spaces on Instagram could draw businesses in. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Reilly said the EDA may be the better place to answer that <br />question. Having a levy for economic development work may be needed. If we can understand <br />how we do strategic planning first, then we can move onto the next step. <br /> <br />Commissioner Brausen said the city needs to be more business friendly. Arden Hills can be a <br />hard city to do business in, at times. That needs to change. <br /> <br />Commissioner Bonine agreed. He said it is known within the development community to stay on <br />the Shoreview side of Lexington. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Fransen asked if the commissioners could provide three things that represent a <br />business-friendly community. <br /> <br />Commissioner Brausen said the signage requirements are terrible here. He shared an example of <br />his experience with Council when he was seeking final approval. He spent an hour discussing the <br />difference between a shrub and a tree. He was also required to install $30,000 worth of windows <br />in a carwash. <br /> <br />Council Liaison Rousseau acknowledged she was at a Chamber of Commerce meeting right after <br />moving to Arden Hills. A gentleman said no one wanted to do business in Arden Hills because of <br />what happens at the Council level. <br /> <br />Commissioner Bonine thinks uniformity is important for a city. He appreciates having a clean <br />look, but how you get there is a struggle. He had some proposals for his site that would have <br />checked a lot of boxes for the City’s needs and would help the tax base. They ultimately decided <br />not to bring it to Council because it would be a waste of $150,000 to draft a plan with no guarantees <br />for approval. He had sign code conversations that lasted hours just talking about a few inches. He <br />likes that we have standards. It would be nice if businesses could have conversations, before going <br />to Council, to learn if a proposed project is close. Staff are the experts in this situation, not Council. <br /> <br />Council Liaison Rousseau agreed Council should rely on Staff’s expertise, because it’s their full- <br />time job, although Council does live in the City and resident feedback is considered <br /> <br />Commissioner Bonine said the Council should facilitate the discussion and hear the community’s <br />concerns. He asked if most cities involve Staff more in the approvals and decisions.