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City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT 1. INTRODUCTION Incorporated in 1951, the City of Arden Hills lies approximately eight miles north of downtown Saint Paul and downtown Minneapolis (Map) in the northwestern portion of Ramsey County. The City is 9.4 square miles and is home to an estimated population of 9,787 people in 2005, which is a slight increase from 9,652 residents counted in the 2000 census. The residents of Arden Hills enjoy a high quality of live with access to neighborhood and regional parks and trails, superb access to regional transportation, and stable neighborhoods. In addition to the City's high quality neighborhoods, Arden Hills is home to a number of large corporations, many small businesses, two private colleges, a high school, an elementary school, and more than 12,000 jobs. Arden Hills is a strong community that attracts residents and businesses because of its close-knit neighborhoods, parks, responsible government, and open spaces. Additionally, the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plan (TCAAP) property provides the City with an opportunity for new development to help service the City's current and future residents. While Arden Hills is a stable community with a bright future, the City does face some challenges. The median age has risen dramatically in recent years, a large percent of the City's land area is tax-exempt, fewer families with children are able to afford a home in the City, and the regional transportation infrastructure is at or beyond capacity in many places. With one million new residents expected in the Twin Cities area between 2000 and 2030, Arden Hills will undoubtedly feel the pressure for development and the impact of development in other communities. The Comprehensive Plan is a policy document that reflects the City's value system and creates a framework for the future by providing an overall vision for the City. As a guiding tool, the Plan provides a system for measuring progress, direction for day- to-day and long-term decision-making, and helps set priorities. This Arden Hills Comprehensive Plan guides the City in several key areas that are vital to the successful and efficient function of the community: • Land use • Housing • Transportation • Infrastructure • Parks and recreation • Open space • Public facilities Each of these topics are examined in a comprehensive and community -wide manner in order to take advantage of opportunities, increase efficiency, and work toward building a stronger community. DRAFT 3 2/22/2008