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<br />Middle: Years 2-4 <br /> <br />10) Central Business District. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The lack of a city center is a common challenge for modern <br />communities. Many of these communities developed similarly to <br />Arden Hills, as a suburb from a larger metropolitan center. Once <br />critical mass was achieved, a community was formed by the first <br />settlers. Since the "city'" at that time was the larger metropolitan <br />downtown, the focus on creating a central business district did not <br />exist. However, as the community grew the need for its own identity <br />grew with it. As is frequently the case, the area for a city center was <br />not zoned or planned in the process, <br /> <br />Arden Hills has areas of higher retail and service concentration; <br />however they were planned for vehicular transportation and have the <br />look and feel of such a decision, A city center is more pedestrian <br />oriented consisting of: <br /> <br />a, Higher buildings <br />b, Zero lot line development (front and side yards) <br />c. Shared parking <br />d, Parks (typically passive) <br />e, Entertainment and dining venues <br />L Niche retail <br /> <br />Areas like this do not currently exist in Arden Hills. This matter is <br />further complicated by the fact that the "historical'" city center/main <br />street which many have defined as CR E has been "abandoned'" by the <br />construction of the new City Hall along CR G/96'h Street. As city halls <br />are traditionally located in the City Center, the citizens in Arden Hills <br />question where the true city center may be at this time. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />A master plan, zoning changes and development/redevelopment <br />efforts designed to create a city center would benefit Arden Hills <br />greatly, This center would be addressed through the way-finding <br />signage presented elsewhere in this strategy and supported through <br />various fairs and festivals held purposely in this area to help create <br />greater awareness and presence for the city center in the community. <br /> <br />11) Trails & Recreation Program <br /> <br />Arden Hills is challenged by the presence of major segregating assets <br />which are its highways and lakes. These bisect the community into <br />small pockets allowing for separate and unique residential <br />opportunities. However, this separation also increases the need for <br />attention to be paid on linking the individual pieces together. Citizens <br /> <br />Strategic Plan for Economic Development Page 16 of 25 <br />Final Draft - Readv for Release Subject to Council Approval and Adoption <br /> <br />. <br />