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<br />ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - MARCH 16, 2009 <br /> <br />12 <br /> <br />distance from the other buildings and questioned if the entrance should be moved <br />or a second entrance provided. <br /> <br />Mr. Keely explained that Walgreen's likes a corner location and corner entrance. <br /> <br />Councilmember Grant agreed that this proposal is much improved over the <br />previous submission but he would like to have some assurance that the stoplight <br />will actually be built at some point in the future. He would like to see the <br />developer or the City have the actual rights to install the stoplight. <br /> <br />Mr. Keely responded that TCF Bank has a long term lease for another four or five <br />years (which includes the site of the stoplight.) However, he suggested the <br />stoplight is something that could be included in the development agreement. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung stated that he continues to be concerned about the <br />access because that will impact the property on the north side of the street. He <br />likes the City's vision for County Road E and, at this point, does not want to veer <br />too much away from that. He would like to see the stoplight put in sooner rather <br />than later. <br /> <br />Councilmember Grant explained that he isn't concerned that the stoplight go in <br />sooner rather than later, just that agreements are in place so that we can do the light <br />when it's needed. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Lehnhoff offered the following observations <br />on this proposal: He has the least amount of comment as far as the building design <br />as they're not to the point where they have details regarding how the buildings will <br />look. There are strict standards in the code which must be followed and he has had <br />preliminary discussions with the property owners as far as expectations. This <br />proposal is strikingly similar to the conceptual plans in the City's Guiding Plan. <br />One exception is the setback; instead of the 20 foot setback in the City's design <br />standards, this proposal calls for a 30 foot setback. But the current proposed <br />setback is a significant improvement over the initial proposal. He also prefers the <br />current parking configuration because a good portion of the parking will be hidden <br />by the grading and landscaping. <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead noted that the Walgreen's building appears to be at a higher <br />elevation and asked if it had been raised. <br /> <br />Mr. Keely explained that there is just a little bit of sloping for drainage. <br />