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internal pedestrian connections. The applicants then withdrew the proposal and the City Council did not review the project. In December of 2007 the City Council adopted a moratorium on all development in the B2 District pending a long-range district study and the development of design guidelines for future development in the B2 Zone. The City then underwent a year long process, which included putting together a B2 Steering Committee and hiring a consultant, to review the concerns of the area and develop guiding principals and design guidelines that would influence future development. The result of that process was the adoption of the Guiding Plan for the B2 District and new design guidelines within the City's Zoning Code(wvwv.ci.arden-hills.mn.us/b2district). The owners of the Arden Plaza retail center have significantly revised their original plans based on the Guiding Plan for the B2 District and the new design standards, and have resubmitted a proposal for redevelopment of the site. Project Proposal and Process 1. Project Description The 12.55 acre Arden Plaza property currently includes two buildings: a retail strip mall with approximately 55,000 square feet and the "pod office building" with 45,944 square feet of gross floor area. The applicant proposes to demolish the pod office building, construct three new buildings, retain the strip mall, and subdivide the property into four lots. The entire project would be completed in three phases. The proposed tenant for Building 1 is a Walgreen's store. Building 3 is anticipated to be a retail and/or restaurant use. Building 2 is anticipated to be a single restaurant user, and Building 4 is yet to be determined. The developer does not yet have tenants for buildings 2, 3, or 4. The first phase, which is also the subject of this review, is for Buildings 1 and 3. The applicant has included an Initial Phase Development Plan (Attachment E) which details what aspects of the project will be constructed with Phase I. 2. Planned Unit Development (PUD) Process: The PUD process is a tool that provides additional flexibility for developments that an underlying zoning district would not otherwise allow. For example, a PUD may change the setbacks, lot coverage, lot sizes, parking requirements, signage, building height, building materials, landscaping requirements, etc. The process is meant to create a better development than the standard regulations may otherwise allow. The PUD process allows the City to negotiate certain aspects of the development; however, any conditions imposed on the City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting- for June 3, 2009 IlMetro-inet.uslardenhillslPlanninglPlanning Casesi2009109-011 Arden Plaza PUD and Plat (pending) 1060309 - PCReport -Arden Plaza - Master PUD.doc Page 2 of 17