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University land. She moved that the commission recommend the addition of this <br />requirement to the Housing portion of the Implementation section of the plan <br />(Section IV, page 14). The motion received a second. A lengthy discussion ensued. <br />Generally, commissioners expressed agreement with the intent of Commissioner <br />Lukermanri s motion. Several commissioners had questions or reservations about <br />adding such specific language. Some felt that the existing draft language goes far <br />enough because the comprehensive plan is intended to be a goal oriented document, <br />that the draft already makes a general commitment to affordable housing in several <br />places, and that this would be better addressed in the zoning code. Others felt that <br />leaving it to future zoning changes is too passive an approach and that market forces <br />might end up working against affordable housing unless this commitment is made in <br />the comprehensive plan. <br />When asked by the commission to give some input on the issue, City Attorney <br />Jamnik said that this area of the law is somewhat "in flux" at present. There is <br />disagreement about the extent of a city's authority to require as a condition of <br />development the inclusion of low and moderate income housing. Although at least <br />one local city has passed such an ordinance it has not been tested in court. He would <br />advise against a "hard and fast statement" in the comprehensive plan. <br />In response to a question from Commissioner Noble, Jones emphasized that the draft <br />• comprehensive plan assumes that there is no intent on the part of the University to <br />sell any of its land in Falcon Heights or private development. One implementation <br />provision included in this plan is the removal of dual zoning from the public land so <br />that the comprehensive plan would have to be amended if the public institutions <br />ever sell their land. This gives the city more leverage if it ever does happen. <br />The question was called. By a show of hands the motion was defeated, 3 in favor, 4 <br />opposed. <br />Commissioner Rodich proposed a new motion to echo the intent of Lukermanri s <br />motion by adding a more "broad stroke' affordable housing statement in the vision <br />and values portion of the plan. Commissioner Anderson pointed out that affordable <br />housing is not a value but a means to an end, that end being a community that is <br />economically and culturally diverse. Ms. Lukermann added that an important part <br />of being a livable community is to provide housing that enables people to live near <br />where they work - in particular University employees. Jones suggested <br />incorporating these goals into the of the values statements: "Maintaining our <br />traditional neighborhoods in this central Metro location, with opportunities for all <br />our generations to stay in the city." Rodich accepted this suggestion and restated his <br />motion, which was seconded by Salzberg. The motion passed unanimously. <br />• The Chair asked for any further comments before a final motion. Anderson ointed <br />P <br />out that the page numbering does not match the document sections after Section IV. <br />City of Falcon Heights -Planning Commission Meeting of March 25, 2008 -Page 2 of 3 <br />