06/06/2002 EDAC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 Metropolitan Council Population forecasts Ms. Divine passed out the new Metropolitan Council forecasts, and the city draft comprehensive plan forecasts. Mr. Grochala stated the new Met Council has Lino Lakes at 8,800 households in 2020, the city has the comp plan at 7,575 households in 2020. The Met Council staff has stated there are several issues, mainly that the city’s comp plan is inconsistent with the metrowide growth forecasts and system plans. The Met Council is not willing to approve the comp plan because of this. Also, the comp plan has residential net density at 2.8 units/acre, the Met Council has not approved a plan with densities of less than 3 per acre. Also, the city does not have enough medium density housing on the plan, we need to add 27-60 acres. The city has no high density designated anywhere. Mr. Grochala said the council is going to have to deal with its forecast and the 147 new homes/year limit. At 8,800 households, the city would add approximately 185 units instead of 147, which is still lower than what the city has been averaging. Staff will put options together on how to address the issues. The Met Council is taking a stronger stance on these issues. Mr. Milbauer stated the comp plan needs to get approved. He stated Lino Lakes is not an affordable housing market, and it could eventually force a lawsuit against the city. Mr. Chase said the original task force was trying to limit sprawl, and ended up counting bodies, which was not the intent. There is a need for affordable housing and you can increase households without ruining the environment. Mr. Grochala asked what the city wants, is it the quantity or the quality of development that is important. He said if we have to add more medium density housing, where would we do it? Forty acres added on 33 square miles is irrelevant. He noted the two sites at Birch and Hodgson and at Hodgson and J, where developers are saying is more commercial area zoned than will ever work in the market. These areas could become mixed use with smaller neighborhood retail. Carving out some of this commercial for medium density could also facilitate the development of these areas. Ms. Schwartz stated that for every $1,000 that a house goes up in value, 30,000 people are priced out of it. Affordable housing is a spur for economic development. Mr. Gorowsky said the city has been reluctant to give up any commercial property. However, these couple sites would accomplish goals of affordable housing. Mr. Grochala said it doesn’t matter what the zoning map says, if it won’t develop. Mr. Milbauer agreed these two instances make sense and could help get the comp plan passed. Ms. Schwartz moved to recommend the City Council strongly consider allocating portions of the commercial areas on Hodgson and Birch (Miller farm), and on Birch and County Road J intersection to be medium or high density residential. Mr. Milbauer seconded the motion. Ms. Schwartz pointed out that EDAC has a past motion that it would not support a net loss of commercial/industrial land. Mr. Milbauer noted the motion is a compromise to getting the comp plan approved and is based on what the market is saying. Ms. Carlson noted that the tax benefit to the city may be just as great with multi-family since the change in tax laws. Motion passed unanimously.