02-04-2026 PC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – December 3, 2025 7 Ms. Doerr reported this area has to allow air through and explained the best option was to place a wall in front of the louvered mechanical area. She commented further on the silencers that would be installed on the three big boxes on the roof. Commissioner Bjorklund indicated he had concerns with the fact the proposed sound wall would not provide meaningful noise mitigation for the rooftop units. He explained he stood in the backyards of three of the adjacent homes and was able to see the rooftop units. Mr. Baxter discussed how sound moves in a spherical pattern and how it dissipates over distance. He explained he understood the sound wall would not be tall enough to cover the rooftop units but there would be meaningful noise reductions in the backyards of these houses. Commissioner Jacobson stated it appears the loading dock and the rooftop units were the main areas of concern. She explained it appears the berm and sound wall would mitigate a portion of this sound. Ms. Doerr reported this was the case. Commissioner Jacobson encouraged Boston Scientific to address the sharper sounds that were coming from their property. Ms. Doerr noted Boston Scientific has received complaints from the neighbors regarding beeping from snow plows working overnight and noted the proposed wall would address this concern. Commissioner Bjorklund expressed concern with the fact the sound wall would not alleviate sharp and sudden sounds. Mr. Baxter reiterated that the sound wall would assist with addressing this concern. He commented further on how the silencers on the rooftop units would assist with addressing the noise that was hitting the second floors of the adjacent homes. Commissioner Jacobson asked if there were any measures the neighbors could take to assist with mitigating the noise. Mr. Baxter reported this would depend on the topography of the lot, but noted he did not believe there was a great deal a resident could do to mitigate all of the noise. Commissioner Birken stated with the greenery in the illustration, she did not believe the noise wall looked so bad. She questioned how many of the existing trees would be retained. Ms. Doerr discussed how Boston Scientific had pursued a full concrete, landscaped wall versus a cheaper wooden wall in order to properly address the concerns of the neighbors and to provide a nicer finished product. Chuck Evans, Landscape Architect with Damon Farber, reported the plans show a mix of new and existing planted materials. He indicated he was hoping to save the mature evergreen trees on the neighborhood side of the wall. He stated the landscaping would then be augmented with new trees as well.