Arden Hills City Council election could change fate of former Army ammunition site development

The future of one of the largest pieces of undeveloped land in the Twin Cities metro, the 427-acre former site of the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP), is at the heart of the race for control of the City Council in Arden Hills.

If this sounds familiar, that’s because it is. TCAAP’s future has been in question for years as the entities that jointly govern its development — Arden Hills and Ramsey County, which spent tens of millions to buy the property in 2013 and clean up contamination — have failed to strike an agreement to start building at the site, dubbed Rice Creek Commons.

Voters will choose two council members from four candidates. Incumbent Brenda Holden and David Radziej have been skeptical of the plans, citing density and cost concerns. Richard Priore and Kurt Weber have campaigned on pushing it forward and are backed by outgoing Council Member Thomas Fabel, who has supported TCAAP’s development.

The debate centers on whether or not proposed plans, which include more housing units and less commercial space, are right for the city.




https://www.startribune.com/arden-hills-election-tcaap-rice-creek-commons/601163135