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. . . ~ ~HILLS Executive Summary On October 11,2004, the Arden Hills City Council direeted the newly formed Economic Development Commission (EDC) to study the following charge, "Does the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP)1 project need economic developmcnt assistance and what types of issues does this present to the City as a whole." The EDC's initial review centered on the issues of public financing (non-private funds necessary to assist in financing portions of the redevelopment) and how future TCAAP redevelopment business transactions eould be constructed to ensure that existing residents will not have additional tax burdens. However, after a number of meetings it became clear that the TCAAP project redevelopment, which has been looked at with caution and concern on how it may affect the City, can also act as positive catalyst in terms of capitalizing community redevelopment funds, reereational funds, and a number of other benefits. The second issue that was raised was the cost of local government services in the TCAAP area. All of the aforementioned issues have been addressed within the policy statement. Before summarizing the committee's recommendations regarding public financing participation in the TCAAP project, the issue of "why should the City of Arden Hills redevelop the TCAAP property" needs to be addressed. Although no official City document states a "development value" for the community, it is eommonly understood that many Arden Hills residents view the City as village and maintaining a rural character is important. Others in the community view that the City is in transition between a village and becoming a city. The difference between a village and a city is difficult to quantifY and articulate but it appears that some of the issues rest with the questions of appropriate levels of community service, the desire to pay for those services, the purpose, and function of local government and how future development/redevelopment within the community should be valued and designed. The EDC views that the TCAAP redevelopment, as illustrated in the city's Framework Vision, is beneficial to the City as a whole based on the following: 1. In 2002 the U.S. Army declared 774 acres of property as exeess ( this includes the primary 455 acre development parcel, the Wildlife Corridor, the north primer tracer area and the Riee Creek Corridor ). This deelaration started a process of disposal which eventually resulted in the City I In this summary, TCAAP refers 10 the approximate 585 acres as illustrated in the "TCAAP Framework Vision" dated March 9, 2005. \\Earth\Planning\Misc Files\EDC\executive summary. doc Page I of5