Laserfiche WebLink
Figure 21: Options for guiding land to meet projected need for affordable housing <br />Option 1:Option 2: <br />Guide sufficient land at a minimum Guide sufficient land at a minimum <br />density of:density of: <br />•8 units/acre to meet a community’s total •12 units/acreto meet need at 50% or <br />needless AMI (combines the two lower <br />affordability bands) <br />•6 units/acreto meet need at 51%-80% <br />AMI <br />Implementation program <br />Communities have a variety of additional tools at their discretion to encourage, incent, and even directly <br />create affordable housing opportunities; guiding land at higher densities alone is insufficient to meet the <br />existing or projected needs for affordable housing.Complete housing elements must not only identify a <br />community’s “programs, fiscal devices and other specific actions”(Minn. Stat. 473.859, subd. 4) <br />available to meet housing needsas stated in statute,but also clearly and directly link which tools will be <br />used, and in what circumstances, to explicitly address the needs previously identified. <br />The Council recognizesthat this is a more robust applicationof the statutory languagethan in the last <br />round of comprehensive plan updates. The Council will ensure that technical assistance is available to <br />helpcommunitiesidentify and directtheir resources. Complete housing elements do not have to <br />commit every available tool to meet housing needs, but must identify and consider all reasonable <br />resources. <br />Council actions to review comprehensive plan updates to expand housing choices <br />Work with local governments and other appropriate stakeholders in the first quarter of 2015 to <br />determine how to strengthen and more effectively review the housing element and <br />implementation program in local comprehensive plans in preparation for the 2018 round of local <br />comprehensive plan updates. <br />Include local responsibilities connected to housing in the 2015 update of the Local Planning <br />Handbook. <br />IncorporatenewInclude updated housing requirements andreview criteria inintothe 2015 <br />update of the Local Planning Handbook. <br />Provide technical assistance to communities desiring more detailed discussion about new <br />requirements and review criteria. <br />Provide communities basic data to inform their existing housing assessments. <br />Provide technical assistance to communities desiring support identifying and understanding <br />available tools to meet existing and projected affordable housing needs. <br />Review the housing element of 2040 Comprehensive Plan updates for completeness with new <br />updated requirementsreview criteria. <br />Provide technical assistance to communities desiring ways to get the most out of their housing <br />element beyond minimum requirements, both in the Local Planning Handbook and in direct <br />assistance if requested. <br />Page - 12|METROPOLITAN COUNCIL <br /> <br />