08-09 Aug/Sept 2024 Arden Hills Notes

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cityofardenhills.org • Aug/Sept 2024 • 1 The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents Aug/Sept 2024 Bee Hives Now Permitted on Properties Rice Creek Commons (TCAAP) Update In July, the City Council approved an update to an ordinance that now permits residents to keep beehives on their properties. As residents begin to install beehives on their properties, there are some key items to be knowledgeable of: Written Notice: Prior to installing a beehive, the property owner must give written notice to their neighbors immediately adjacent to them of their intent to keep bees. Location: Hives must be at least 10 feet from property lines and 25 feet from public sidewalks, trails, walkways, and neighboring dwellings. They cannot be placed in the front of a property or a side yard that abuts a street. Quantity: There are regulations on how many beehives a property can have. The number of hives on residential lots is not to exceed the following: • 1 acre or larger: 8 • 1 acre – ¾ Acre: 6 • ¾ acre to ½ acre: 4 • ½ acre or less: 2 Management: Property owners who keep bees must provide and maintain a nearby, designated water source for the bees, which is crucial for their well-being. Housing bees have many benefits, including their impact on pollinating plants and their ability to produce honey. It’s important that residents understand the ordinance before installing a beehive. For more information, please reference City Ordinance 2024-006 at cityofardenhills.org/Section1325- PerformanceStandards. Contact planning@cityofardenhills.org if you have any questions. The Rice Creek Commons (RCC) project is undergoing continued discussions between the City, County, and developer. In the past six months, the County and City cooperatively pursued bonding from the State to assist in funding infrastructure obligations. However, the legislators did not pass a bonding bill, and thus, needed infrastructure funding was not available for the project. This was the County’s number one bonding priority and will be sought after again at the next legislative session. The developer, Alatus, is continuing to have conversations with private equity partners to secure additional financing for the project. These conversations can evolve quickly, and the best source of timely information is watching the Joint Development Authority (JDA) meetings themselves at cityofardenhills.org/JDA-replays. One notable action the JDA recently took was directing Staff and the project’s energy consultant to pursue LEED for Communities for the project. This certification is an internationally recognized credential that sets standards for energy and sustainability. Pursuing this certification will not only help provide a pathway for the project to meet its energy and sustainability goals, but it will also hold the project accountable and provide third-party verification that it is living up to its goals. More about this certification can be found on the Green Business Council’s website at usgbc.org/leed/rating-systems/leed-for-cities-communities. Another important aspect of the project being worked on is the final design of the spine road and associated infrastructure, which is the main thoroughfare for the site. This recently approved design project is expected to last around eighteen months, and will be an important piece in prepping the site for vertical construction. For the most up-to-date information, please watch the City’s website, JDA meetings, and the project page at ricecreekcommons.com.