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<br />ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION - JUNE 1, 2005 <br /> <br />13 <br /> <br />Jim Clark, 4528 Keithson Drive, expressed concern about the traffic. He asked them to <br />take into consideration the winter months and the blind spot on the road. He believed <br />there would be an increase in traffic accidents in the area with this development. He <br />stated he liked the nice, low profile of the buildings on the north side of Highway 96 off <br />of Hamline and suggested they have low profile buildings in this development also. He <br />noted in the future he believed Hamline would be generating considerable more traffic <br />once the TCAAP area was developed. He also expressed concern about his property <br />value decreasing. He believed the development would look better and fit in better where <br />the shopping center was located up on Highway 96. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Jan Cather Weaver, 1435 Arden View Drive, stated she would also like a berm as <br />previously suggested. She expressed concern regarding the landscaping on the front side <br />of Highway 96. She asked how the buildings would be landscaped so they did not look <br />like a shopping mall or rental units with all of the aspbalt. She expressed concern about <br />the wildlife and requested that the wildlife not be disrupted with this development. She <br />asked who would manage any vacated unit. She believed there was a lack of interest in <br />this type of a development in the City. She asked if the traffic study had taken into <br />consideration thc increase of traffic in the next five to ten years. She expressed concern <br />that Arden View Court would be used as a "U" turn. She stated she bought her home <br />because it was a quiet neighborhood and expressed concern about the human ecology of <br />Arden View Drive and Arden Hills. <br /> <br />Mike Black stated with respect to traffic, they had a report from a professional engineer . <br />trained in traffic and there was a very detailed report done for this area. He stated based <br />on this zoning, land use and development, the traffic being generatcd from this project <br />would not have a significant impact to the traffic. He indicated during high traffic times, <br />people would seek the easiest way in and out so there might be an occasional "U" turn. <br />He stated this was no different than anywhere somebody went. He suggested the City <br />have their engineer review the report. He noted the study had also been reviewed by the <br />Ramsey County Engineer, who had also agreed that this was an appropriate traffic <br />generated use for this location. He understood the frustrations the residents had with the <br />traffic, but those conditions were there today and providing a second way of ingress and <br />egress was a must to makc this development a viable project. He stated it was better to <br />provide for disbursement of traffic rather than having one access point and he did not <br />believe they could get the County's permission to cut an access into Highway 96. He <br />noted with the berm, they would need a minimum of 70 feet, which was not possible <br />unless the residents wanted part of the berm on their property. He indicated they could <br />look at a slight berm, but he was not sure it would work and there was a concern with <br />proper drainage also. He suggested they walk along the buffer are and add more <br />land~caping if needed. He stated landscaping was not an issue and if they wanted <br />additional landscaping, they were willing to do that. He did not believe they would <br />negatively impact property values and in fact, believed the property values would rise. <br />He noted this was a high end, quality office development and the value of this <br />development would increase the property values in the area. He stated they were willing <br />to discuss with staff with restricting retail and restaurants and it was their intention of . <br />having this strictly an office complex. With respect to the walkway along the westerly <br />edge, they would look at that area and attempt to provide some curves in that walkway <br />with additional landscaping, noting they were limited in space. With respect to the <br />dumpster location, all of the dumpsters would be bricked and roofed with a wood gated <br />