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October 27,2022 PC Minutes <br /> Page 5 <br /> was a private drive and that Lambert would need to contact the commercial association which owns <br /> the road for access. <br /> Commissioner Lessard stated that traffic concerns arise with the current bottlenecking effect in the <br /> Festival Foods parking lot, which Juba replied will be reviewed. Lambert stated that secondary access <br /> points will be considered. <br /> Commissioners Petty and Andress stated that walkability to neighboring commercial uses such as <br /> Festival Foods should be considered. <br /> Chair Kleissler asks if underground parking would be a possibility, which Lambert objected to due to <br /> costs that are passed onto renters. Lambert describes the lower price point with centralized heat that <br /> his properties have used. Commissioner Andress asks if the units will have individual air conditioner <br /> units, to which Lambert says yes. <br /> Commissioner Arcand asks about Lambert's exit strategy. Lambert replied that his company develops, <br /> owns, and operates all of their projects. <br /> Commissioner Petty asks if the proposed recreational space would be a public park through park <br /> dedication. Juba responds that the Parks Commission will be evaluating the need for a park in the area <br /> and provide guidelines. <br /> Commissioner Andress asks if the proposed playground would remain with an adjacent public park. <br /> Lambert says that that is to be determined, and points to the exercise equipment at his Arbor Ridge <br /> building in Forest Lake. <br /> Commissioner Andress asks if any similarly compact site designs have worked. Lambert points to his <br /> Forest Lake projects, but that a density of 10 units per acre is a relatively low-density project, with <br /> most apartment developers approaching 20 units per acre. <br /> Commissioner Arcand asks what could be done with the eastern portion of the property, and whether <br /> a building would be possible. Juba explains that a mix of uses would be possible with a PUD, but that <br /> Lambert would like to keep a 10 units per acre density to avoid the requirement for underground <br /> parking. Juba further states that the city code is not well set up for large apartment projects, and <br /> suggests that the Planning Commission discuss what they would like to see in that regard. Lambert <br /> points to the 3-story limit being a reason for the compact space. <br /> Chair Kleissler asks how Lambert may re-envision the layout if it were oriented toward the adjacent <br /> commercial facilities, creating more of a walkable, mixed-use environment. Lambert states that a lack <br /> of cross-access easements created design challenges, but the orientation may be revisited if he had a <br /> blank slate. <br /> Commissioner Arcand asks if the eastern portion of the property had approximately 3 buildable acres. <br /> Lambert says yes, and that a density calculation may not have worked within PUD criteria. <br />