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<br />Overview of Greater MN Housing Fund Growth Corridor Initiative Conference & Consider Pre-application Submittal for <br />Initiative Program <br />November 8, 2004 City Council Meeting <br />Page 2 of2 <br /> <br />There are two examples of the types of projects that might occur as part of the program in <br />the attached "Planning & Building Better Communities..." pamphlet. The two projects are <br />located in Cambridge and North Branch and include master planning oflarge sites, <br />inclusionary housing, cost controls, and permanent housing affordability. Both cities have <br />received monies for land acquisition. <br /> <br />Issue <br />A Request for Proposals (RFP) to participate in the program was announced at the October <br />20'h conference. Further described in the attached Program Guidelines & Pre-Application, <br />the purpose of the RFP is to choose two communities within the four-county area that will <br />receive financial and technical support from GMHF for "model" projects similar to the <br />Cambridge and North Branch projects. Model projects will include: <br /> <br />. Area-wide master plans <br />. Life cycle housing (different housing styles) <br />. Efficient land use <br />. Increased citizen participation <br /> <br />Financial and technical support is available for site selection and site design, public <br />infrastructure planning, home designs, and reducing regulatory barriers to affordable <br />housing. <br /> <br />Program goals are oudined on Page 14 of the attached Pre-Application. Applicants to the <br />program should be interested in "pursuing cost-reduction strategies" to housing such as <br />modest-size lots and narrow street widths as examples. Minimum program requirements are <br />specified on Pages 15 & 16. <br /> <br />The Pre-Application deadline is December 15, 2004. Applicants will then be invited to <br />submit a formal application by February 4, 2005. <br /> <br />Staff Request <br />Given the City Council's position on affordable housing, and the City's current <br />"monitoring" mode regarding housing; an application to the GMHF program would require <br />the City to take an active role in promoting/encouraging affordable housing. <br /> <br />Staff requests the City Council's direction regarding the submittal of an application. <br />