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LOCAL PLANNING <br />HANDBOOK <br />Net density is important in ensuring the region's orderly and efficient growth, and to provide essential services that <br />benefit the metro area. Communities and land within the Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA) receive a higher <br />level of regional services and investments than those in the Rural Service Area, such as regional wastewater services, <br />regional highways, transit service, the Regional Parks System, and programs that support redevelopment. In return, <br />the Council expects jurisdictions in the MUSA to plan for and build the higher levels of development that economically <br />support those regional services. <br />The region is able to provide cost-effective infrastructure and services when it is able to anticipate where, when, and <br />to what extent growth will occur. The Council establishes overall density expectations for communities based on <br />their Community Designation with additional expectations near transit stations. Density thresholds are based on an <br />understanding of future regional growth, market demand in different parts of the region, existing development patterns <br />and redevelopment opportunities, existing planned land uses in local comprehensive plans, and regional policies to <br />support the concentration of higher density growth around transit stations. <br />Setting minimum average densities for new development <br />provides communities with the flexibility to determine which <br />areas in their community are best suited for higher or lower <br />density development under the framework of meeting that <br />overall minimum on available developable lands. <br />HOW DO WE CALCULATE NET DENSITY? <br />:EV Llll'RIrEX EECEVE OPMENTCTATIONS R NEW GROWTH, <br />etropolitan Urban Service Area: Minimum Average Net Density <br />Urban Center <br />Urban <br />Suburban <br />Suburban Edge <br />Emerging Suburban Edge <br />20 units/acre <br />10 units/acre <br />5 units/acre <br />3-5 units/acre <br />3-5 units/acre <br />The Council measures minimum net density to support forecasted growth by taking the minimum number of planned <br />housing units and dividing by the net acreage. Net acreage does not include land covered by wetlands, water bodies, <br />public parks and trails, public open space, arterial road rights -of -way, and other undevelopable acres identified in or <br />protected by local ordinances such as steep slopes. <br />NET RESIDENTIAL DENSITY GUIDELINES <br />What can be netted out from Gross Acres Important notes <br />Wetlands and Water Bodies <br />Defined as public waters and <br />wetlands consistent with state <br />delineation practices, buffers may <br />also be included* <br />What cannot be netted out <br />Setbacks from water bodies, <br />storm ponds, NURP ponds <br />Public Parks and Open Space <br />Must be public or in permanent <br />open space (federal, state, regional, <br />local) or land held in perpetual open <br />space in an open space easement. <br />Privately held conservation <br />easements, private parks, <br />private trails <br />Arterial Road Rights -of -Way <br />Arterial roads are part of the <br />metropolitan highway system <br />Arterial Road Right -of -Way <br />Local road rights -of -way <br />that are not part of the <br />metropolitan highway system <br />Other areas that are protected from Floodplains, steep slopes, bluffs <br />development by local ordinances <br />*Areas protected or removed from development by local ordinance can be netted out <br />LOCAL PLANNING <br />HANDBOOK <br />Metropolitan Council <br />390 Robert Street North <br />Saint Paul, MN 55101 <br />Main: 651.602.1000 <br />TTY: 651.291.0904 <br />Public Information: 651.602.1500 <br />public.info@metc.state.mn.us <br />July 2015 <br />metrocouncil.org <br />METROPOLITAN <br />COUNCIL <br />