HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-28-25-SWS
City of Arden Hills ▪1245 West Highway 96 ▪ Arden Hills Minnesota 55112
Phone 651.792.7800 ▪ Fax 651.634.5137 ▪ www.cityofardenhills.org
Request for Special City Council Work Session
A special meeting may be called by the Mayor or by any two Councilmembers.
Reason for meeting: 1. Public Inquiries/Informational
2. Response to Public Inquiries
3. Agenda Items
A. Zoning Code Update Discussion
B. Chickens and Ducks Discussion
4. Council/Staff Comments
Adjourn
Requested Date: 05/28/2025
Requested time: Immediately following Special City Council meeting
Open meeting X Closed meeting
Signature of person(s) making request:
05/22/2025
Mayor or Council Member Date
/ /
Council Member Date
-This section to be completed by City staff-
Date received: 05/22/2025
Date meeting to be held: 05/28/2025
Time of meeting: Immediately following Special City Council meeting
Location: City Hall
All necessary postings and notices have been completed.
05/22/2025
Signature of City Clerk Date
'It
,-4 QENEN HILLS
Approved: July 14, 2025
CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
MAY 28,2025
5:00 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Grant called to order the Special City
Council Work Session at 5:09 p.m.
Present: Mayor David Grant; Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Tena Monson,
Emily Rousseau and Kurt Weber
Absent: None
Also present: City Administrator Jessica Jagoe
1. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL
None.
2. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC INQUIRIES
None.
3. AGENDA ITEMS
A. Zoning Code Update Discussion
City Administrator Jagoe stated at the May 12th work session, the City Council began the
review of the HKGi Summary of Work Session #2 memo and recommendations. Feedback was
given on the Lot Standards and Site Standards portion of the memo. During the review of the
Permitted and Accessory Use Tables, the City Council tabled the discussion of the remaining
items in the consultant memo to a Special Work Session scheduled for May 28th. The remaining
discussion items that staff is looking for direction from the City Council on which will then be
shared with HKGi are as follows:
• Principal and Accessory Use Tables — HKGi has prepared the proposed principal and
accessory use tables for non-residential zoning districts. The consultants have made
recommendations on revisions for naming of uses and optional additional non-residential
ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MAY 28, 2025 2
uses to consider, as well as those uses for discussion of transitioning to Permitted with
Standards. The consultants are not proposing to remove Conditional Uses altogether, but
this would allow the City to apply the same conditions and would remove some barriers to
development(i.e. application review time and expense).
o Permitted Use has few additional standards beyond the usual lot and site
requirements such as lot size, yard setbacks, height, impervious coverage, etc. A
Conditional Use requires a public hearing to ensure that any potential impacts to
surrounding properties are mitigated through conditions that are tailored to the
specific use and circumstances.
o Permitted with Standards do not require a public hearing but do have additional
performance requirements listed in code that must be evaluated by Planning staff
to ensure they are being met before a proposed project may apply for a building
permit.
• Development Standards - HKGi reviewed existing ordinance language and discussed with
the Planning Commission several other development standards for parking, signage,
landscaping, exterior storage, and outdoor lighting which are summarized in their memo
to the City Council. In July, HKGi will have a third Work Session with the Planning
Commission focused on use specific standards, the subdivision code, and various
procedures for land use applications.
Mayor Grant reviewed Attachment C with the Council and asked for comments or questions.
Councilmember Holden stated she did not understand why townhouses was struck from R-1
when cottage courtyard houses was the same thing.
Councilmember Weber agreed.
Mayor Grant agreed and recommended cottage courtyard be struck from R-1.
Councilmember Holden stated she did not believe manufactured home parks should be on the R-
1 or R-2 zoning districts. The Council was in agreement.
Councilmember Weber questioned how a manufactured home park was defined in City Code.
City Administrator Jagoe stated she would have to follow up with HKGi on this matter.
Further discussion ensued regarding the new permitted with standards process.
Councilmember Weber asked how townhomes are defined within City Code.
City Administrator Jagoe commented on how a townhome was defined within City Code and
discussed how townhomes were different than a duplex. It was noted townhomes differed from
other single family homes because they were part of an HOA.
Mayor Grant asked if a twin house was the same as a townhouse. He was of the opinion a
townhouse did not belong in the R-1 zoning district.
ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MAY 28, 2025 3
Councilmember Holden commented she did not support having townhouses or rowhouses in R-
1 either. She recommended that Permitted with Standards be added to R-1 townhouses and
cottage courtyard.
City Administrator Jagoe explained staff could come back with further information on the how
cottage courtyard,rowhouses, twinhomes and townhouses would be defined within City Code.
Councilmember Holden suggested the City owned property along County Road 96 be zoned
Civic instead of Neighborhood Business, in the event the City needs to expand the Public Works
Facility.
Mayor Grant stated he supported this suggestion.
Councilmember Rousseau indicated she did not support this recommendation. She explained
this property could have a higher use than Civic.
Councilmember Holden reported land was limited and land around TCAAP was even more
limited.
Councilmember Monson stated she understood Shoreview also needed to expand their Public
Works Facility and there might be opportunities to work with them. She asked how many acres
the property was along County Road 96.
City Administrator Jagoe indicated the property was just under seven acres.
Councilmember Rousseau stated she did not support using this property as Civic and explained
it was her understanding the neighbors were concerned about how this site would develop and
there was concern about change in general in that space. She said it sounded like the Planning
Commission at that time, that all of the Planning Commissioners had approved that but when it
went to the Council it was denied. She explained this was the recollection from the previous chair
of the Planning Commission at that time.
A short discussion ensued regarding the old planning case regarding development of this site on
Count Road 96 and that the applicant had pulled out of the project.
Councilmember Monson recommended this property be focused on further at the July work
session.
Further discussion ensued regarding group housing options.
Councilmember Holden asked how a boarding house was defined. She understood there were
individuals interested in building a boardinghouse in the community.
City Administrator Jagoe reviewed the definition noting a boarding house could only
accommodate three to five people.
Councilmember Monson stated she would prefer to keep residence halls as student only and
within an institution.
ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MAY 28, 2025 4
Councilmember Weber recommended boarding houses fall under a PUD concept.
City Administrator Jagoe explained if a boarding house were made a PUD, the applicant could
request flexibilities and could be expanded to serve 25 people. She indicated if a boarding house
were a CUP, the City could have standard lot sizes and specific criteria in place.
Councilmember Monson recommended this topic be pushed off to a future work session when
HKGi was in attendance. The Council was in agreement.
Councilmember Holden indicated she would like educational uses to remain a Conditional Use.
Councilmember Monson stated she liked the idea of a community school, but recommended all
schools be a Permitted with Standards.
Councilmember Weber asked if there were any nurseries in the City.
Mayor Grant reported there was one nursery in the City.
Councilmember Weber questioned why this use was being scratched if there was an existing
nursery in the community.
Councilmember Holden recommended nurseries remain a Conditional Use in the City.
Councilmember Weber supported nurseries being Permitted with Standards.
Mayor Grant recommended this use be Conditional.
Councilmember Monson suggested the Council revisit this use after standards have been
drafted.
Councilmember Rousseau stated she could support the use being conditional as well.
Councilmember Monson recommended accessory daycare uses be moved from a Conditional to
a Permitted.
Councilmember Weber explained he supported the daycare requirements remaining as is
because the standards in place were important when dealing with kids.
The Council supported Permitted with Standards for solar in the R-4 zoning district.
Councilmember Rousseau supported taking another look at Class 2 home occupations.
Councilmember Weber recommended healthcare facilities be within a PUD.
Councilmember Rousseau suggested hotel/motel remain a Conditional Use in Gateway
Business.
Councilmember Holden supported this recommendation.
ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MAY 28, 2025 5
Councilmember Monson recommended hotel/motel also be allowed as a Conditional Use in the
B-4 zoning district. She suggested mortuary uses be in B-3 and B-4 but not in B-2.
Councilmember Weber and Councilmember Rousseau agreed with these recommendations.
Councilmember Rousseau suggested mortuary also be allowed in the I-FLEX zoning district.
Councilmember Holden recommended mortuary be a Permitted with Standards in the B-3 and
B-4 zoning districts.
Mayor Grant indicated he did not support places of assembly as an allowed use in I-FLEX. The
Council supported this recommendation.
Councilmember Monson recommended legal counsel review the recommendations when it
comes to places of assembly.
The Council discussed Public Uses and what would be allowed on public property.
Mayor Grant indicated he supported all uses on public property being Conditional.
Councilmember Monson asked if the Council wanted to continue discussing this matter or
should it be pushed off to July.
Councilmember Holden explained she wanted to finish the chart.
Councilmember Weber supported finishing the chart as well.
Mayor Grant questioned how the Council wanted to address brew pubs.
Councilmember Holden commented she could support brew pubs in I-FLEX and neighborhood
business.
Councilmember Rousseau suggested microbreweries being located in the Gateway Business
District.
Councilmember Monson stated she was fine with microbreweries as proposed by staff. She
commented she could support microbreweries and brew pubs Permitted with Standards in the I-
FLEX zoning district.
The Council supported removing microbreweries from the Gateway Business District.
Councilmember Monson recommended restaurants be Permitted in the 1-1 and 1-FLEX zoning
districts.
Councilmember Holden suggested movie theater be allowed as a Permitted use in the I-FLEX
and 1-1.
Councilmember Rousseau stated she did not support this recommendation because she did not
have a lot of faith in the movie industry right now.
ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MAY 28, 2025 6
Mayor Grant indicated he did not support movie theaters in the I-1 and I-FLEX zoning district.
Councilmember Monson requested staff provide the Council with further information and
definitions of major and minor car services, with details on where car washes would be allowed.
Mayor Grant recommended cannabis be dealt with separate.
Councilmember Monson supported pawn shops being a Conditional Use in the I-FLEX zoning
district.
Mayor Grant stated he did not see how a nursery fit into the I-FLEX zoning district.
Councilmember Monson requested staff look into home occupations and if studios would be
allowed.
Councilmember Holden supported vet uses in the I-1 and B-4 zoning districts, Permitted with
Standards.
Councilmember Weber recommended dry cleaning not be allowed as a neighborhood business.
Councilmember Monson suggested dry cleaning be allowed in B-2 and B-3.
Councilmember Holden asked that dog kennels be removed from Mixed Use and be placed in
the B-4 zoning district as a Conditional Use.
Councilmember Monson supported dog kennels being allowed as a Permitted with Standards in
the I-FLEX as well.
The Council supported financial institutions being moved back to I-1 as a Permitted Use.
Councilmember Holden recommended self-service laundromats not be in B-2.
Councilmember Rousseau agreed, noting she could support laundromats in B-3 and B-4.
Councilmember Monson asked that staff speak to the consultant regarding the uses that were
being shifted to B-4. She stated she wanted to ensure the different zoning districts were well
defined.
Councilmember Holden indicated she did not support the City having a construction/ contractor
yard.
Mayor Grant agreed, stating he could support Scherer Brothers being grandfathered in as a non-
conforming legal use. He anticipated Scherer Brothers would be selling their property once
TCAAP develops.
B. Chickens and Ducks Discussion
This item was pushed to a future Council work session.
4. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND STAFF UPDATES
ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MAY 28, 2025 7
City Administrator Jagoe stated she would be sending the Council an email early next week in
order to assist with setting a special meeting to hire the new building inspector. She explained she
just received a resignation letter for the Building Official. She indicated she would be following
up with Rum River to assist with providing services.
City Administrator Jagoe commented that the City received a permit for a fieldhouse on the
AHATS property.
Mayor Grant stated if the City was hiring a new Building Official, the City could seek
candidates that have a State Delegation. He suggested the City Council hold a short special
meeting next week to address the hiring of the new building inspector and review the building
official position for posting.
Councilmember Monson supported the City Council holding several special work session
meetings prior to July before the budget meetings were held.
Councilmember Rousseau recommended the Council consider holding additional meetings in
the beginning of the year in order to assist with reducing the length of work session agendas in the
spring and summer.
Mayor Grant commented on how this Council was more engaged and held longer discussions.
He indicated the Council could address some of the work session topics in subcommittees with a
quorum of the Council.
Councilmember Weber supported this recommendation.
Councilmember Rousseau stated she could support items being addressed in subcommittees.
Councilmember Monson asked staff to see how other cities were addressing topics and if other
committees should be added to assist the Council with its workload.
ADJOURN
Mayor Grant adjourned the City Council Work Session at 7:21 p.m.
Julie anson David Grant
City Jerk Mayor