Laserfiche WebLink
particularly if they become a danger to <br />themselves or others. <br />LE-13. Inclusionary Housing <br />Issue: Provisions in current state statute <br />(Minn. Stat. § 462.358, subd. 11) allowing <br />cities to enter into development agreements <br />for the inclusion of a portion of the units in <br />the development to be affordable for low- or <br />moderate -income families have been a <br />source of conflict between cities and <br />housing developers. <br />Cities are concerned builders view this <br />statute as a restriction on local authority to <br />adopt policies that promote availability of <br />housing affordable to those who are unable <br />to purchase or rent housing at price points <br />that the market alone provides. <br />Response: The Legislature should: <br />a) Strengthen and clarify cities' <br />authority to carry out policies that <br />offer developers a range of incentives <br />in return for including a designated <br />number of affordable units in their <br />projects. <br />b) Identify strategies to ensure long-term <br />affordability of rental and owner - <br />occupied housing produced as a result <br />of such policies and practices. <br />c) Focus state housing policy to support <br />for local assessment of housing needs <br />and direct additional state resources <br />and the full exercise of local authority <br />to increase development of affordable <br />rental units and access to entry-level, <br />owner -occupied housing. <br />d) Support voluntary measures to <br />encourage cities to adopt and carry <br />out land -use plans, activities, and <br />subdivision regulations aimed at <br />providing for construction and <br />marketing of housing where a portion <br />of all new units are affordable to <br />lower -income households. <br />LE-14. Community Land Trusts <br />Issue: The increasing price of land available <br />for housing development, particularly for <br />retaining affordability of housing for lower - <br />income households, is a concern throughout <br />the state. Creating more permanently <br />affordable, owner -occupied housing depends <br />heavily on maximizing the cost- <br />effectiveness of taxpayer investments. The <br />Legislature has previously appropriated <br />funding and granted the Minnesota Housing <br />Finance Agency authority to assist cities <br />with funding community land trusts (CLTs) <br />for affordable housing. <br />Response: The Legislature should support <br />continuation of the land trust capacity - <br />building program and provide capital <br />start-up funds so community land trusts <br />can continue to offer gap financing, <br />interest rate write -downs, <br />predevelopment financing, and financial <br />underwriting. The Legislature should also <br />support efforts by the Minnesota <br />Community Land Trust Coalition to <br />develop property tax valuation to lower <br />property taxes for sales -price -restricted <br />properties enrolled in CLT programs. <br />LE-15. Telecommunications and <br />Information Technology <br />Issue: Telecommunications and information <br />technology is essential public infrastructure <br />for the efficient, equitable, and affordable <br />delivery of local government services to <br />residents. Telecommunications includes <br />voice, video, data, and services delivered <br />over cable, telephone, fiber-optic, wireless, <br />and all other platforms. <br />Response: The League of Minnesota <br />Cities supports a balanced approach to <br />League of Minnesota Cities <br />2015 City Policies Page 55 <br />