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<br /> 2 ' ' ” . : THE BUSINESS JOURNAL 1 twincities.bizlaurnais.COr August 2,2002
<br /> New law makes Wayzata re-examine affordable housing policy
<br /> •
<br /> BY SCOTT D.SMITH cities from passing strong measures to pro- , developments. '
<br /> STAFF REPORTER mote affordable housing," Callanan said. At that time, Wayzata's attorney, Robert
<br /> A state law that was quietly passed this The nonprofit's mission is to promote and Meller of. Minneapolis-based Best &
<br /> session has caused one suburb to stop Rick Packer, chair of the public policy preserve affordable housing statewide. Flanagan, advised the city that it had the
<br /> exploring a policy requiring developers to committee for the Roseville-based Builders Wayzata officials are sticking with its authority to institute such requirements.He
<br /> build affordable housing, but affordable . Association of the Twin Cities, agrees with attorney's interpretation. based his opinion on a state statute and an
<br /> housing advocates disagree that was the that interpretation."(The law]has strength- "We thought the Legislature would adopt opinion rendered by the Minnesota
<br /> law's intent. ened our position and it makes it easier for some laws that were helpful and supportive Attorney General's Office.
<br /> The city of Wayzata was considering an us to challenge cities that use too much of a of affordable housing, and it turns out that In June,Meller changed his tune based on
<br /> ordinance to require residential developers strong hand,"he said. our attorney is telling us that the opposite the new state law.The law says cities can put
<br /> to build affordable housing units in some But Rachel Callanan,policy director of the happened,"said Dave Frischmon,Wayzata's in place requirements regarding sale prices,
<br /> circumstances. But Wayzata's city attorney St. Paul-based Minnesota Housing director of finance. rents,maximum income levels of initial and
<br /> told city officials that the state law, which Partnership, said her group doesn't agree In March,Wayzata instituted a multifami- subsequent buyers and land trust agree-
<br /> goes into effect today,says that municipali with Wayzata's interpretation of the law, ly residential development moratorium to ments,but those requirements are"subject
<br /> ties can't do that unless developers volun- which her group supported. give itself time to explore a mandatory to agreement by the developer."
<br /> tarily agree to do so. "We don't think that the law excludes inclusion of affordable housing in new Said Packer:"There has to be a deal struck
<br /> between the developer and the city."
<br /> Wayzata is not alone in wanting to foster
<br /> affordable housing.
<br /> St.Cloud,Sartel,Waite Park,Sauk Rapids,
<br /> and St. Joseph are pursuing a joint agree-
<br /> ment that would set a goal of having 15 per-
<br /> cent of new rental and for-sale development
<br /> be affordable. The communities hope to
<br /> meet their goal by getting developers to vol-
<br /> . .
<br /> .? untarily cooperate, said David Carlberg,
<br /> planning director for St.Cloud.
<br /> a;N; k,t y But if municipalities were given the
<br /> 'T y fi ' ' " i''x authority to do so,more would move toward
<br /> t,.l .:4 �y sr. yb s 'i .c vY.r ki?,1,. ,
<br /> r e}?�';�'x 4 �;V;Ii�G r::44i°:�,?' '' ~ 1 mandatory affordable-housing policies, he
<br /> ,. •'�^AC•."':4i.''s ,�`Y'i.,.^ 73k'.,.5:,.rMi7s:•>'JYi;B..` �l ,,4-.,.;.: : said
<br /> `(. Afy'(. Ott � S l:` ktr,+ ,��y+: a�.�J,'..\�5
<br /> .� M,� �,� t� ,,5, a:,�,,(�i,+,` The debate is somewhat academic for
<br /> i�' •:y,• ., ''` 't' w, " Minneapolis and St. Paul.Affordahle-hous
<br /> • .: Y ,r N:f,:;• :': ing initiatives in fully deVeloped-cities
<br /> • : h$$'I(11ow the last thin n i almost always require puusd.0'•;' ), .,F+;�a i t which cities can use as leverage, said Al
<br /> in your diet �Cti r
<br /> ;' ,: t ,�:r�; Carlson,project manager in St.Paul's plan
<br /> , j 4 '� ate
<br /> i� CY!_.1..:' _.4."...K:::-,::,. --'-`4 '' '(',n i yids,+,
<br /> �'i `, Wing department.
<br /> ,r_
<br /> J} �'- Ann Higgins, intergovernmental relations
<br /> .,r, , , < {;:�;.:.:::. officer for the League of Minnesota Cities,
<br /> ,t,£ ; Y v "`:; : ,;;; said the bill was written because cities and
<br /> t, , ' '.
<br /> ,',,.,:;.J...;:.. = :1•. housing activists wanted to expand the .
<br /> -;;M r', . rights of cities to foster affordable housing.
<br /> The law is an example of the legislative
<br /> . process of compromise."This was a product
<br /> - that each of us could take something back
<br /> ._ home with us,"Higgins said,because it clar-
<br /> ifies what cities can do.
<br /> _s r., 4;r 3 'F" The association hopes the law will have a
<br /> �'"r � ' h -,' e .. `K ` positive result of allowing cities to work with
<br /> X35,,�;,; , .,. ,:,' ;- p g
<br /> -,,-6,/-1- .V t 'k' ,.', l ,.),,,k',? . .'.. -,v! ^;` developers that want to create affordable
<br /> housing,Higgins said.`But if it needs more
<br /> work, we'll be there to champion more
<br /> options for cities."
<br /> ssinith @biiz]uumals.com I(612)288-2101
<br /> 410.4"11'. 10 ,.111':_,P Voll _-■■; c,F to,-.■F1v titist. With :,I Sf, F F If p Ivacy 15 Il.H; in FL?l;1ec.! F;JG'Fr .,ilr. ,I(TH: (,,;y !SP-,
<br /> AFFORDABLE HOUSING LAW
<br /> fh,It ;Pit t;12;- IP 0 HHt ;FIJI i n, ,,,;,,l UIiOFFI ■,1•f Ldb'.-'I P F'ciS I,'III' Ill JCi2y "' . ° I■.IV• ift r...'Lli. P.Iiit hioll 1 Approved:April 8,2002
<br /> i . . l ( [ll', 1!lt, di _'r,d1 I' on),,Id-., lit I_�hI I 'I ,,IC: lf.'lli! '.I, ,y,:ti, rlt,iltl,l t ,'1 iFI;t'01` ■ ,111-'i1R,e.,i Effective date:Aug.1,2002
<br /> - Authors:State Sen.Richard Cohen,DFL-St.Paul
<br /> ctii- ;,,t,. 'f,:'t H., 1,ily.h(1-,,, �F■1/'0 ;x11(.;) : �'11. I` V'lL ^r!;•,v,�10 °—:1_, '.ai i12•ll,G'II i!li'?IFCSU1 Rep.Ray Vanderveer,R-Forest Lake
<br /> .
<br /> I i":IFF , I ;!:` -,in,-! ;I F i .'I'I'JIII ;IF�`�'Ut-1` 1-,-, I C. I1[,l _ r' nE1:1"'I , -■ ( ,17 ib' l '1,i,, 'ii' Sutamaiy ticipalities subject to developer
<br /> •: aoprovaf,can establish the following criteria
<br /> wwien:approving:a project
<br /> •sale prices:or rents for affordable units..
<br /> T l : •maximum income knits for initial and subsequent
<br /> r .1' purchasers of renters of affordable units
<br /> ' t" ' e means..for maintaining long-term affordability,in-
<br /> i ], C ' cluding equity sharing,or similar activities and
<br /> land trust agreements
<br />
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