8.1 SR 10-18-2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Reinvest in Existing Housing Investing in the oldest homes built in Elk River not only improves the appearance and overall attractiveness of historic neighborhoods and the vibrancy of the down- town, but also helps support the largest source of naturally occurring affordable housing in the community. Studies completed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have found that older houses typically maintain lower rents and sales prices than newer housing and as such make up the majority of affordable non -gov- ernment subsidized housing across the United States. The city should work alongside the Housing and Rede- velopment Authority (HRA) to encourage and enforce the continued maintenance and reinvestment in these critical neighborhoods to ensure a healthy, diverse, and affordable housing stock is available to residents of Elk River. Waive License and Permit Fees Associated with Maintenance Reinvestment into the exterior of a home can be expensive and time consuming. Although most costs are associated with materials and labor, other costs may stem from the fee to place a dumpster or receive a license or permit. The city should consider working with a contracted partner for trash collection to waive these fees for a limited time period every year to encourage homeowners to reinvest in their properties. For example, the city could allow dump - sters to be placed on the street for groups of five or more neighbors looking to improve their homes. Encourage Expansions of Existing Single -Family Detached Homes Many homes in the downtown neighborhoods have considerable yard space before they would be restricted by rear setback requirements. However, the maximum lot coverage for these parcels is a major restriction to any expansion of these homes. Making it easy to expand existing single-family detached homes can help diver- sify the overall housing stock in the city and also allow homeowners to meet the needs of their growing family, modernize their homes, and make them more marketable in the long run, while still fitting within the existing neigh- borhood character. The city should encourage expansions by reducing barriers to design, permitting, and construc- tion through a variety of means such as: • Assessing and amending residential district bulk and dimensional standards to allow for higher lot coverage; • Waiving or reducing permitting fees on certain project types; • Providing community information sessions on how to complete permit applications for homeowners completing their own work; • Providing assistance to homeowners on how to find a licensed contractor in the city; • Providing information sessions/guidance on how to schedule inspections once work is complete; and • Expanding inspection times to include weekends and/or hours after the standard workday from 5:00-7:00 p.m. In addition, the city should also advertise the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) as a key resource for low and moderate income homeowners looking to complete home expansions in Elk River. The HRA is a public corpora- tion empowered to undertake certain types of housing and redevelopment projects in the city. The HRA has resources and funds available for homeowners to make improve- ments to their properties located within the Urban Service Area. 44 101X-11ad9i7:1OWN IMiVEi701WO Housing Plan • Elk River Comprehensive Plan