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. April 23, 2005 Plan Commission Membcrs City of Arden Hills This relates to Planning Case 05-12, the Office Park proposed to be on the former city hall and maintenance facility site, 1440-1450 Highway 96. Arden Hills North Homes Association (AHNJlA) represents the 140-unit townhomes situated directly south of and adjacent to the proposed development. Our residents and Board of Dircctors are not opposed to an office park on the sitc ifit is consistent in both letter and spirit with the applicable NB zoning. However, we have serious reservations about the initial proposal as discussed at the neighborhood informational meeting on April 19, and understand that it will be substantially modified prior to prescntation at a hearing on June I. . Accordingly, we arc listing those reservations at this time based on the initial proposal as we now know it. Wc understand that a modified proposal would be available for our inspection in mid May prior to your meeting on June I, and are planning to present further comments to you then. In addition, many of our 140 resident families may wish to comment indcpcndently in writing or verbally at the meeting, along with others residing on Arden View Court (Townhouse Villages of Arden Jlills Association) and on Keithson Drive, as well as the management of Children's World. Among other steps taken to assess the probable impact of the proposed office p::rk, we have toured and photographed a similar development by Royal Oak Realty in Lakeville having similar building likely using the same or very similar plans. 1} Of.thet\'<0 the_pr9pe~Y{),n:.Hj_gh\~r:lY ,Of., Avenue is of the most conccm. Traffic entering or leaving from or to the north must cross two lanes of traffic already congested at times; the same applies to entering from the south, while exiting to the soutb much of the time requires breaking into a line of traffic. We already experience this a short distance further south at Arden View Drive, but the proposed new entrance/exit will be worse due to its proximity to the Hamline-96 interscction. The County traffic engineer must be consulted and permits issued for such an entrance or exit. 2) The casement from Hamline A venuc is on a hillside. If a driveway is located in it, how would the area above and below it be graded or retained to prevent erosion? Where will tbe drainage go? And will thc edges of the retaining wall or grade be protectcd by railings or a fcnce to protect residents (including children from the adjacent daycare facility) from falling? . 3) The apparent "main" entrance to thc propcrty directly off Highway 96 is a':ailablc only eastbound, neccssitating westbound traffic to V-turn at the Kcithson Drive