Agenda - Council - 01/10/2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CC Regular Session Meeting Date: 01/10/2012 By: Tim Gladhill, Community Development Information Title: Authorize Application for Metropolitan Council Transit Oriented Development Grant 7.6. Background: The Metropolitan Council has created a new grant category as part of the Livable Communities Act (LCA) program known as the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Grant. Funding was made available in part from unspent LCA awards to projects that never commenced. With the approval of the Ramsey Station on the Northstar Commuter Rail, areas within 1/4 mile of the Ramsey Station are eligible for the grant. The City is part of the LCA program of the Metropolitan Council. The City must respond to a housing questionnaire annually. The City's 2011 Housing Performance Score is 78/100, which ranks very well amongst participating communities. Attached to the case are the 2010 Housing Performance Scores (please note that these scores are from the previous cycle -the 2011 list has not yet been updated). Notification: No notification required. Observations: Staff has identified three (3) projects for consideration. The City is able to submit multiple applications. These projects include: 1. Sunwood Drive Realignment 2. Center Street Construction 3. Village Square Commons and/or North Commons Construction There are four (4) categories of LCA TOD grants: 1. Tax Base Revitalization Account (TBRA) Contamination Cleanup Site Investigation TOD grants 2. TBRA Contamination Cleanup TOD grants 3. Livable Communities Demonstration Account (LCDA) Pre -Development TOD grants 4. LCDA Development TOD grants TBRA Contamination Cleanup Site Investigation TOD grants These grants are intended for applicants that have or will purchase a redevelopment site with suspected or perceived contamination and are seeking public funding to assist with the cost of determining the scope and severity of the contamination and to develop a cleanup plan. The investigation grants are intended to encourage an early start to the environmental remediation process. TBRA Contamination Cleanup TOD grants These grants are intended for applicants that have recently completed their cleanup site investigation and are seeking public funding to assist with the cost of implementing a cleanup plan and beginning redevelopment. LCDA Pre -Development TOD grants These grants are intended for applicants who are defining their TOD project through such activities as design workshops, preparing redevelopment, corridor or station area plans, developing zoning and land use implementation tools such as overlay zones or zoning districts, or determining strategies for land banking and land acquisition.