HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-03-14 PC Work Session Minutes
Approved: October 8, 2014
CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA
PLANNING COMMISSION
WORK SESSION
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014
ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Chair Clayton Larson called to order the work session
meeting at 7:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present were: Chair Clayton Larson, Commissioners Brent Bartel, Andrew Holewa, Steven Jones
(Alternate), Roberta Thompson, and Clayton Zimmerman.
Absent: Commissioners Angela Hames and Sam Scott.
Also present were: City Planner Ryan Streff; Associate Planner Matthew Bachler; and
Councilmember Fran Holmes.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA – SEPTEMBER 3, 2014
The Agenda was approved as presented.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. TCAAP Redevelopment Code (TRC) – Chapter 1-5
City Planner Streff stated that at the work session on August 18, 2014, the City Council held its
first of three workshops with Gateway Planning, the zoning subconsultant for the TCAAP Master
Plan. During the workshop, Brad Lonberger (Gateway Planning) introduced performance based
zoning, reviewed the framework and important elements of the code, and discussed the initial
draft of chapters 1 through 5, which are the administrative and process sections of the code.
City Planner Streff explained that the City Council continued their discussion of chapters 1
through 5 of the TCAAP Redevelopment Code (TRC) at the Work Session on August 25.
Specific topics of discussion included the relationship of the TRC to other City Ordinances, the
development review process, and the appropriate mix of different housing types. Gateway
Planning will return to Arden Hills for the second workshop on September 15, 2014. At this
second workshop, the City Council will begin discussing the district guidelines consisting of
ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION – September 3, 2014 2
chapters 6 through 11 (Building and Site Development Standards, Building Design Standards,
Open Space Standards, Streetscape and Landscape Standards and Sign Standards).
Chair Larson opened the floor to Commission questions.
Discussion ensued regarding the proposed TRC site along with how it correlates with the
Comprehensive Plan.
Chair Larson questioned how each of the neighborhoods would develop.
Councilmember Holmes anticipated that each neighborhood would develop as a separate
Planned Unit Development. She reiterated that the TRC would be approved by the Arden Hills
Planning Commission and City Council and not the JDA.
Associate Planner Bachler reported that the intent of the TRC is for it to be user friendly for
future developers, while also allowing developers to move quickly and efficiently through the
permitting process. He reviewed the new terms that would be used within the proposed Code.
The Commission discussed how to keep the TRC regulations “fair” between TCAAP and the
remainder of Arden Hills.
Councilmember Holmes reported that the term “Secondary/Garage Apartment” has been
removed from the TRC.
Chair Larson discussed the use of spandrel glass and recommended this issue be addressed
within the Code. He then provided comment on the need for design flexibility for corporate
tenants that may locate on the Thumb portion of the site.
Commissioner Bartel suggested staff look into roof-top decks/patios as a possibility within
TCAAP.
City Planner Streff thanked the Commission for their input this evening and looked forward to
reviewing the TRC in further detail at a future meeting.
ADJOURN
Chair Larson adjourned the September 3, 2014, Planning Commission Work
Session Meeting at 8:38 p.m.