Agenda - Council - 02/08/2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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communities to develop workforce housing: a) MHFA should solicit input from local communities to ensure that the goals of the Workforce Housing Grant program are met, and MHFA should award funds to eligible projects as quickly and efficiently as possible; b) The Legislature should increase funding to the Housing and Job Growth Initiative to aid housing in support of job growth, and amend Minn. Stat. § 462A.33 to eliminate or increase the maximum income levels for participation in the program; and c) The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency should make administrative changes to the Housing Challenge Grant program to streamline the application process, reduce the per - unit cost of constructing affordable housing, and increase the construction of affordable rental units at 80% of median income and owner -occupied units at 115% of median income, as currently allowed by state and federal law; and d) The Legislature should pass legislation creating a workforce housing tax credit to spur development of workforce housing. e) The Legislature should scale the workforce housing grant program to account for the additional cost associated with the prevailing wage requirements. f) The Legislature should eliminate the provision in Minn. Stat. § 469.175, subd. 3, that requires the county board and school board to approve a workforce housing TIF plan before it is enacted and the Legislature should also eliminate the sunset of the workforce housing TIF authority. 95 LE-34. Development Along Transit Corridors Issue: While the establishment of transit lines and corridors provide the impetus for economic development, there are limits to existing development tools that hinder full development of transit corridors. For example, acquisition of land outside of the line but within the corridor can be difficult, and current tools are not well -suited for the creation of public spaces, enhancement of infrastructure, and investments such as parking ramps that are necessary components of a transit -oriented development plan. In 2008 the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) was authorized to establish Transit Improvement Areas, which should complement long-term transportation planning initiatives such as MAP-21 and Minnesota GO. Transit Improvement Areas include parcels of land that are located in part within one-half mile of a transit station. A transit station is defined as a physical structure or designated area which supports the interconnection of various transportation modes, including light rail, commuter rail and bus rapid transit, and which promotes and achieves the loading, discharging and transporting of people. The commissioner of DEED may designate a Transit Improvement Area if it will increase the effectiveness of a mass transit project by incorporating one or more modes of public transportation with commercial and housing development, as well as providing a clean and pleasant place for pedestrian use. DEED has designated over 50 Transit Improvement Areas; all but two are located in the seven - county metropolitan area. Although the language passed and was signed into law by the governor (Minn. Stat. § 469.35), there was no funding put into place to implement the new program.