HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-02-23-SWSMayor:
David Grant
Councilmembers:
Brenda Holden
Emily Rousseau
Tena Monson
Tom Fabel
Agenda
November 02, 2023
Address:
1245 West Highway 96
Arden Hills MN 55112
Phone:
651.792.7800
Website:
www.cityofardenhills.org
Special City Council Work Session – 5:30 p.m.
City Vision
Arden Hills is a strong community that values its unique environmental setting, strong residential neighborhoods,
vital business community, well-maintained infrastructure, fiscal soundness, and our long-standing tradition
as a desirable City in which to live, work, and play.
This meeting is open to the public and members of the public can attend in-person at City Hall or
can access the meeting remotely by joining via Zoom.
(See Public Inquiries/Informational below for instructions)
CALL TO ORDER
1. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL
Members of the public are invited to remotely monitor the City Council meeting via Zoom using the
below link. Members are also welcome to provide public comments during this section of the agenda
via Zoom. Members wishing to provide public comment must use the “raise hand” feature in Zoom
to identify themselves as wanting to make a public comment and will be called upon to provide their
public comment during this portion of the agenda. Those that speak must state their name and address
for the record.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82334294330
*Please make sure you have the most up-to-date version of Zoom to participate in the meeting*
This is an opportunity for citizens to respectfully
bring to the Council’s attention any items which are
relevant to the City. In addressing the Council, you
must first state your name and address for the record.
Comments shall be limited to three (3) minutes or
less. Written documents may be distributed to the
Council prior to the start of the meeting to allow a
more timely presentation. Council will generally not
respond at the same meeting where an issue is initially
raised by a member of the public but the Council may
refer the issue to staff for further research and possible
report or action at a future Council meeting.
2. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC INQUIRIES
3. AGENDA ITEMS Staff/Presenters Time
A. Rice Creek Commons/TCAAP Discussion Dave Perrault
4. COUNCIL/STAFF COMMENTS
ADJOURN
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AGENDA ITEM – 3A
MEMORANDUM
DATE: November 2, 2023 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Dave Perrault, City Administrator SUBJECT: Rice Creek Commons/TCAAP Discussion
Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source:
N/A N/A N/A
For Council Consideration
The City Council should consider providing further direction on its vision for the Rice Creek
Commons/TCAAP project.
Background
At a previous worksession, the City Council requested a special worksession on November 2nd to
provide feedback on the Rice Creek Commons (RCC)/TCAAP project. This meeting is the day
after the Joint Development Authority (JDA) holds its public engagement event. This evening’s
discussion is intended to be wide ranging on TCAAP, and to help Council inform Staff of their
position moving forward. While Council may want to discuss some of the feedback they received
the previous evening, we will not have a formal report on the feedback from the event until after
the event’s consultant can put it together. Council should also weigh in on the proposed density
scenario put forward by Alatus. Alatus will be present to answer any questions the Council may
have and provide additional information on the scenario. Specifically, Council will want to direct
Staff if/how/when to move forward on seeking changes to the necessary regulating documents to
accommodate the proposed density scenario. Below is a short recap of the proposed density
scenario, as well as, a few other high-level items the Council may want to consider for discussion.
Density Scenario
The proposed density scenario would increase the currently allowed density of 1,460 units to 1,960
units. This would be accomplished by converting the southwest corner of the site that is currently
zoned for Flex Office to residential. It would also add some additional housing to the Town Center
South. Below is the link of the presentation made by Alatus to the JDA.
https://webstreaming.ctv15.org/viewer.php?streamid=6603
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Should Council want to entertain increasing the density on the site, it should direct Staff to proceed
with drafting the necessary amendments to the TRC and Comprehensive Plan. Council may want
to direct any further public engagement on these items, and it should be noted that there will be
applicable Public Hearings associated with these amendments.
Affordability
Currently, the affordability on the site is expected to be that at least twenty percent of the units will
be affordable at a price range of sixty percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), or less. It is
anticipated that Ramsey County, through its financing mechanisms, will be seeking deeply
affordability on some of the units down to thirty percent of AMI. Most of this affordability will be
on the rental side; however, it is also anticipated that there will be affordability for owner-occupied
housing.
Ownership versus Rental
While the exact ratio of owner occupied to rental needs to be further refined, the Council and
Ramsey County have expressed a strong preference for ownership opportunities on the site.
Traffic
Concerns surrounding traffic have been expressed about the project, and Ramsey County is
currently reviewing adjacent County roadways to provide hard data that will illustrate the impact of
the RCC project. What we can say today is that roadways, such as, Highway 96 were designed to
accommodate TCAAP when it is built out, and the study will either confirm this or provide further
insight as to what may be needed. The 2014 AUAR and 2019 update reviewed the entrances/exits
to TCAAP, as well as, surrounding intersections. Those results can be found on the City’s website
(https://www.cityofardenhills.org/DocumentCenter/View/3285/2019-08-27-TCAAP-AUAR-
Update-Adopted-PDF?bidId=). Regarding traffic internal to the site, like all development projects,
that is reviewed and addressed as part of the design. Analysis was not completed as part of the
1,460 zoning; if the density is increased to 1,960, there will be an offset of the additional trips
generated due to not having the Flex Office use in that location. Regardless of the 1,460 or 1,960,
traffic design and impacts will be part of the final design and engineered accordingly.
School District
There have been questions regarding the school district’s ability to handle the additional enrollment
due to the RCC project. Staff has confirmed with the school district that they are able to handle the
additional capacity at the proposed density scenario of 1,960.
At its last worksession, the City Council also raised items related to bike paths, small business
attraction, short-term rentals, cost of electricity versus gas, and bird safety.
Budget Impact
N/A
Attachment
N/A