Ben Lindau
Name: Ben Lindau
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 763-951-1665
Campaign Website: https://www.benforardenhills.com
Twitter Handle: None
Facebook Page: Ben Lindau For Arden Hills
Candidate Bio
I'm running for City Council to give back to our community in a meaningful way. I'm a parent, planning commissioner, architect, builder, and sustainability expert. My family moved here 10 years ago for the schools, parks, trails, safe neighborhoods, & high-quality housing, and I want to preserve and build on these values as a Council Member.
While serving on the Planning Commission, my expertise helped to navigate complex issues and to solve them in more collaborative and common-sense ways. For example, I had Boston Scientific address the source of noise instead of tearing down more trees on a park trail and putting up a massive sound wall. I also used my construction background to modernize the zoning code in ways that are more common sense and affordable to build. As a professional, I’ve led other communities through complex challenges, like net-zero electrified buildings, community-based master planning, and the design and construction of US Bank Stadium’s largest pivot doors in the world.
The challenge ahead is Rice Creek Commons, and how it can celebrate the values of Arden Hills while bringing us into the future; and I will deeply listen to residents to help guide us towards this vision.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I take the time to deeply listen, be patient, to understand, and to bring people together through the aliment of what I hear. I am very Civil, and I wish others the best – even when we disagree.
What are your top three priorities if elected, and how might they be affected by growing uncertainty around state and federal funding?
My top three priorities if elected are: Protecting our excellent schools, parks, and neighborhoods; Increasing property value and keeping taxes low; and Aligning Rice Creek Commons with these values while helping to create a more sustainable future.
Reduced Federal funding risks less support for schools, delayed grant funding for parks and infrastructure, and a slower and more locally expensive buildout of Rice Creek Commons.
What is the biggest challenge facing Arden Hills right now, and where do you see the greatest opportunity?
I see the biggest challenges as our greatest opportunities. We can lower the tax burden on homeowners by carefully bringing in the businesses and services that we need to increase our tax base. Many residents also want more housing options to downsize while staying in our community, and Rice Creek Commons can meet that need while aligning with the values of why we love to live here.
How would you characterize the business climate in Arden Hills, and what role should city government play in partnering with the business community to attract jobs, develop the workforce, and address shared challenges?
Arden Hills is largely made up of 17 distinct neighborhood communities, with commercial areas mostly along the Lexington Avenue Corridor. There’s a great opportunity to carefully add the services we need in the obsolete areas along this corridor with little to no impact on our neighborhoods. The 2050 comprehensive plan that the City Council will develop next year is a great opportunity to expand our business community by guiding our land use in this direction.
What do you view as the most pressing public safety challenges in your community, and how would you address them?
Our biggest public safety challenges are our aging infrastructure and missing trail connections. I would prioritize the completion of these “missing” connections, and the long-term funding and maintenance of our aging infrastructure. In addition, I would propose an improved resident communication plan, so that residents can understand this approach and when they will be impacted.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability, and how do you view the role of rent control policies in that process?
I want more housing options that meet the multigenerational needs of today, like more ways to adapt your home, and more types of housing to pick from that align with the needs of today’s families. On the Planning Commission, I voted yes for the inclusionary zoning policy that adds a certain percentage of “affordable” units to each new housing development; and I’ve seen this succeed in other suburban communities as a great way to meet this community need without rent control.
How would you improve transportation infrastructure and safety for drivers, transit riders, cyclists, and pedestrians in your community?
I would continue to support the completion of the remaining trail connections that connect our neighborhoods to the main commercial corridors, and the long-term funding and maintenance of our aging infrastructure.
Residential property owners across the region are feeling significant strain from rising property tax bills. How would you approach balancing fiscal responsibility with the demand for services when setting the city levy?
Arden Hills has “kicked the can” on the proper funding for our parks, trails, roads, and infrastructure. I support a City forward approach with a long term capital plan, annual maintenance plan, and dedicated improvement crews that can meet this annual capacity without the need for large tax levies every 3 to 5 years.
What are the two or three issues where you believe city government is best positioned to lead — and why the city rather than the state or county?
City governments need to control their own land use by residents from their own communities, and not the State Legislature. Cities governments also need to decide where increases in density and changes in land use will best serve their communities. Cities should provide community engagement with police and fire, to build trust and connection with the residents they serve.
What does real taxpayer transparency look like to you, and what specific steps would you take to achieve it — both in terms of financial reporting and public engagement?
Communication is key, and transparency is where you can easily understand where your tax dollars are going in your own community. With our overlapping County and City services, a combined City and County regular communication plan, system, and platform can help to bridge this gap, and we need to adapt to the way residents communicate today with email and engaging social media.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 763-951-1665
Campaign Website: https://www.benforardenhills.com
Twitter Handle: None
Facebook Page: Ben Lindau For Arden Hills
Candidate Bio
I'm running for City Council to give back to our community in a meaningful way. I'm a parent, planning commissioner, architect, builder, and sustainability expert. My family moved here 10 years ago for the schools, parks, trails, safe neighborhoods, & high-quality housing, and I want to preserve and build on these values as a Council Member.
While serving on the Planning Commission, my expertise helped to navigate complex issues and to solve them in more collaborative and common-sense ways. For example, I had Boston Scientific address the source of noise instead of tearing down more trees on a park trail and putting up a massive sound wall. I also used my construction background to modernize the zoning code in ways that are more common sense and affordable to build. As a professional, I’ve led other communities through complex challenges, like net-zero electrified buildings, community-based master planning, and the design and construction of US Bank Stadium’s largest pivot doors in the world.
The challenge ahead is Rice Creek Commons, and how it can celebrate the values of Arden Hills while bringing us into the future; and I will deeply listen to residents to help guide us towards this vision.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I take the time to deeply listen, be patient, to understand, and to bring people together through the aliment of what I hear. I am very Civil, and I wish others the best – even when we disagree.
What are your top three priorities if elected, and how might they be affected by growing uncertainty around state and federal funding?
My top three priorities if elected are: Protecting our excellent schools, parks, and neighborhoods; Increasing property value and keeping taxes low; and Aligning Rice Creek Commons with these values while helping to create a more sustainable future.
Reduced Federal funding risks less support for schools, delayed grant funding for parks and infrastructure, and a slower and more locally expensive buildout of Rice Creek Commons.
What is the biggest challenge facing Arden Hills right now, and where do you see the greatest opportunity?
I see the biggest challenges as our greatest opportunities. We can lower the tax burden on homeowners by carefully bringing in the businesses and services that we need to increase our tax base. Many residents also want more housing options to downsize while staying in our community, and Rice Creek Commons can meet that need while aligning with the values of why we love to live here.
How would you characterize the business climate in Arden Hills, and what role should city government play in partnering with the business community to attract jobs, develop the workforce, and address shared challenges?
Arden Hills is largely made up of 17 distinct neighborhood communities, with commercial areas mostly along the Lexington Avenue Corridor. There’s a great opportunity to carefully add the services we need in the obsolete areas along this corridor with little to no impact on our neighborhoods. The 2050 comprehensive plan that the City Council will develop next year is a great opportunity to expand our business community by guiding our land use in this direction.
What do you view as the most pressing public safety challenges in your community, and how would you address them?
Our biggest public safety challenges are our aging infrastructure and missing trail connections. I would prioritize the completion of these “missing” connections, and the long-term funding and maintenance of our aging infrastructure. In addition, I would propose an improved resident communication plan, so that residents can understand this approach and when they will be impacted.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability, and how do you view the role of rent control policies in that process?
I want more housing options that meet the multigenerational needs of today, like more ways to adapt your home, and more types of housing to pick from that align with the needs of today’s families. On the Planning Commission, I voted yes for the inclusionary zoning policy that adds a certain percentage of “affordable” units to each new housing development; and I’ve seen this succeed in other suburban communities as a great way to meet this community need without rent control.
How would you improve transportation infrastructure and safety for drivers, transit riders, cyclists, and pedestrians in your community?
I would continue to support the completion of the remaining trail connections that connect our neighborhoods to the main commercial corridors, and the long-term funding and maintenance of our aging infrastructure.
Residential property owners across the region are feeling significant strain from rising property tax bills. How would you approach balancing fiscal responsibility with the demand for services when setting the city levy?
Arden Hills has “kicked the can” on the proper funding for our parks, trails, roads, and infrastructure. I support a City forward approach with a long term capital plan, annual maintenance plan, and dedicated improvement crews that can meet this annual capacity without the need for large tax levies every 3 to 5 years.
What are the two or three issues where you believe city government is best positioned to lead — and why the city rather than the state or county?
City governments need to control their own land use by residents from their own communities, and not the State Legislature. Cities governments also need to decide where increases in density and changes in land use will best serve their communities. Cities should provide community engagement with police and fire, to build trust and connection with the residents they serve.
What does real taxpayer transparency look like to you, and what specific steps would you take to achieve it — both in terms of financial reporting and public engagement?
Communication is key, and transparency is where you can easily understand where your tax dollars are going in your own community. With our overlapping County and City services, a combined City and County regular communication plan, system, and platform can help to bridge this gap, and we need to adapt to the way residents communicate today with email and engaging social media.