Agenda - Planning Commission - 09/04/2014

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Last revised July 24, 2014 Expanded Technical Assistance to Local Governments around Housing The Metropolitan Land Planning Act and the Council's review authority give the Council a unique role with local governments. The Council already provides technical assistance to local jurisdictions to support the local comprehensive planning process and the effective implementation of regional policies. To supplement its traditional role of reviewing local comprehensive plans, the Council will expand the technical assistance it provides to local governments around housing. The Council hopes that expanded technical assistance will lead to stronger housing elements and housing implementation programs in local comprehensive plans as well as support affordable housing development in cities with little experience in working with affordable housing developers. In addition to existing forms of planning technical assistance, Council staff has the ability and capacity to provide planning expertise to communities seeking deeper understanding of housing's role in planning. Council staff can assist in station area planning, small area planning, corridor planning, and implementation planning, specifically integrating local and regional housing goals into the work. Council staff can help ensure that adopted plans are not only consistent with but contribute to the implementation of their housing elements, and can provide regional perspective on the strategies, challenges and opportunities that are facing all communities in the region. The Council can also play a significant role in sharing best practices developed by others, such as the Minnesota Housing Policy Toolbox, the Family Housing Fund, and the Minnesota Challenge -winning initiative of the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) and the Housing Preservation Project to identify opportunities for cost savings and local means for lowering total development costs. Rather than "reinventing the wheel," the Council will look for practical opportunities to direct local governments to and/or supplement these types of offerings. Topics that may be of particular interest include: • Accessory dwelling units • Cost-effective affordable housing preservation • Naturally occurring affordable housing preservation • Access to naturally occurring affordable housing for low-income households • Mixed -income development • Advancing equity in housing • Flexible, resilient, and culturally sensitive design • Community engagement • Place -making and housing • Sustainable practices in housing design, rehabilitation, and construction • Inclusionary housing Council staff will continue to serve as a resource to communities seeking research and best practices on housing strategies, tools, and opportunities. Additional technical assistance can be provided beyond planning and information sharing. Cities have widely varying levels of sophistication around development, and in an environment where development deals are difficult for even the most experienced city staff, many smaller communities are at a disadvantage when it comes to incenting the construction of new housing. Council staff is positioned to assist interested communities in the identification of key housing sites, districts, or areas in their community. Additional support can be made available to evaluate strategies for site control (including acquisition, assembly, and funding sources), liaise with the development community, and market housing opportunities. The Council sees an opportunity to provide technical assistance to support 2040 HOUSING POLICY PLAN I METROPOLITAN COUNCIL DRAFT RELEASED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Part III: Council Policies and Roles I Page 59