5.4. SR 01-27-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Project The proposal is to comprehensively plan, design and build a model project applying the principals of smart growth, sustainable design and green buildings. Elk River is in an excellent position for such a project being near the metropolitan area and located at the junction of two major road corridors (US Trunk Highways 10 & 169/101). In addition, the city is suffering from a rapid escalation of housing cost due to a rampant rise in land prices and is experiencing the negative effects of urban sprawl. We feel our project fits OEA's Goal #4 - Priority Project #1- Open Grant Round. Specifically, the project will consist of approximately 800 units of mixed housing, commercial and institutional uses on 213 acres where environmental, social and economic issues are coordinated on the front end. Normally, no one entity considers all three of these issues when making their decisions, which will make our project unique. Thus far, the project team consists of the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, Christian Builders, Dy. namics Desig~n & Land Co., Energy City and a group of local civic and religious leader. The hope is to also partner with local lending institutions, Sherbume County Habitat for Humanity and the Elk River Area School District. The Greater Minnesota Housing Fund and Energy City will be showcasing the project. A project of this magnitude that can easily be accessed from the metro area will serve as an excellent model for other communities. One of the emphases of this project is housing that is not only affordable to buy, but also to maintain. In addition to new and innovative tectmiques, successful strategies used in similar projects will be incorporated into the design of this one. The concept behind this neighborhood will be sustainable and other communities should benefit from the lessons learned. Request The request is for a grant of $75,000. Designing and pla~ming a project of this magnitude will take a great deal of coordination, which is hard to accomplish with volunteer efforts. Specifically, a project coordinator with an environmental engineering back~ound will be hired using these funds. Some in-kind services will be used to match these funds (the plat design expertise of the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund and Dynamic Design & Land Co., with technical assistance from Cermak Rhoades Architects; the construction expertise of Christian Builders; teclmical energy expertise of Energy City members and staff coordination from the City of Elk River). Other matching monies will be requested from the City of Elk River's landfill abatement fund for those components that deal with solid waste issues. None of the OEA grant money will be used for the construction of this project. The project will begin as soon as funds are available to hire a project coordinator and will be finished prior to acquiring the necessary permits and the actual construction. About the Partners Energy City, the only program of its kind in the state, it is a partnership between the City of Elk River and Energy Alley. Others involved in Energy City include: Sherburne County, a wide range of Minnesota energy companies including Elk River Municipal Utilities, environmental groups, the Elk River Area School District and the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Energy Alley's/Energy City's Mission Statement is: "Advance Milmesota's energy efficient and renewable energy industry to benefit our economy and environment." Energy City was created to act as a geographical focal point for demonstrating energy efficient and renewable energy products, technologies and services. Notable Energy City demonstrations include a large wind generator, a refuse derived fuel plant and power station and a landfill gas to electricity plant, which has tripled in production since it was named the US Environmental Protection Agency's project of the year in 1998. Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, provides financial and technical assistance statewide to projects focusing on affordable single family and multifamily housing. Christian Builders, local builder who accounts for approximately 150 homes per year in this area. They have demonstrated that they are willing and capable of innovative construction to deal with environmental issues. The construction of Energy City's "Energy House 1", which was coordinated by Brad Richardson of Christian Builders, received the National Association of Home Builders Research Center's "Gold Winner Energy Value Award" in 1998. Dynamics Design & Land Co., long time local developers who have demonstrated vision and a feet for the land in their designs of the numerous projects they have completed in this area. They have pioneered innovations for this area such as cluster developments with community septic systems and wells. Local Civic Leaders - A group of community and religious leaders concerned with the rising cost of housing in the Elk River area and its effects on the elderly, new families and economically challenged.