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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-07-12 PACKET 07FROM: Danette Parr, Economic Development Director DATE: July 7, 2011 RE: Housing As the EDA is aware, when a business considers locating within a community, they often evaluate numerous factors, some of which include: the quality of the work force, access to key transportation corridors, taxes, and availability of shovel ready land. In the case of service oriented businesses, a factor of concern can involve access to affordable housing for their workforce. Typically, economically vibrant communities have a healthy mix of uses, including housing options that meet the full spectrum of the demographics that exist within the community. In the case where housing for higher income earners is lacking, a community may see a resistance by certain types of businesses to enter the market there, due to the community having a lower percentage of individuals with expendable incomes. An equally problematic situation can arise when service businesses have difficulty attracting workers, due to limited affordable housing within the community. Over time, the overuse of the terms "affordable housing" or "attainable housing" have brought about confusion related to what the terms actually mean. However, according to the Metropolitan Council, housing is considered affordable /attainable when a family with a moderate or low income pays no more than 30 -40% of its monthly income for housing. As a part of evaluating the overall economic health of the City, we'd like to share housing stock data with the EDA and receive feedback related to a number of questions. Existing housing Cottage Grove remains a predominantly single family community. Of the 12,129 housing units in the city, 80 percent are single family units. This is significantly higher than for the metropolitan area as a whole, where single family units make up less than 60 percent of all housing. Single family housing also makes up a larger share of total housing in Cottage Grove than most other second ring developing communities. For example, in Rosemount the corresponding share of single family units is 69 percent, Woodbury has 61 percent and Eagan 53 percent of total housing in single family units. Economic Development Authority Housing Page 2 of 3 Attached Townhouses 1,337 i 11% Detached Townhouses 20 0% Multiple Family 812 7% Total 12,129 58.0% With a large share of single family housing, there are relatively few attached housing units in the city. Townhouse units make up 12 percent of the total supply, with only 7 percent of all units in multiple family housing. The numbers and variety of attached housing products are expected to increase as development continues in the City. The East Ravine Master Plan called for approximately 35 percent of new housing units in that area to be in attached housing products. In particular, the East Ravine Plan emphasized the need for additional "empty nester" housing choices, including single level townhouse units and condominiums SJNGL� IL'"ET CHEOP12UP1 12T1'l/ 'Lantl and raga(ues)'� a. # of SF Units % < $200,000 2,301 216% $200,001 - $300,000 5,643 58.0% $300,001 - $400,000 1,288 13.2% $400,001 - $500,000 373 3.8% $500,001 - $600,000 94 1.0% > $600,001 35 0.4% Average Value $250,939 Median Value $229,000 Most single family housing in the city is moderately priced. Approximately 82 percent of all single family units are valued at less than $300,000. The median value for all single family houses is $229,000. The average value is expected to increase in the future. Most existing single family houses valued above $300,000 have been built in the past decade. In 2007, the average sale price for new single family houses was $510,000. In 2007 a housing market study was prepared for the Washington County Housing and Redevelopment Authority by Maxfield Research, Inc. The study projected demand for various housing types through 2030 in Washington County communities. In projecting demand, Cottage Grove was combined in the study with St. Paul Park and Newport. It was determined that approximately 88 percent of the demand for the sub -area would occur in Cottage Grove alone. Demand for various types of housing in Cottage Grove is shown on the following page. Economic Development Authority Housing Page 3 of 3 PROJECTED HOUSING DEMAND 2007 -2030 HOUSING DEMAND 11,730 OWNERSHIP 10,130 SINGLE- MULTI- ADULT SENIOR 1,003 RENTAL 576 SERVICE- AFFORDABLE ADULT FAMILY FAMILY OWNED RENTAL INTENSIVE /SUBSIDY 5,683 4,447 155 294 554 184 MARKET RATE 392 This study shows that 86 percent of housing demand will be for owner occupied units. Of these units, there will be increased demand for townhouse units. Approximately 44 percent of the demand for owner - occupied units will be for various types of townhouses, with single family houses making up 56 percent of the new units. This growth in demand for townhouses continues a recent trend. Since 2000, about 40 percent of the new housing units in the city have been townhouses. Even with the growth in numbers of attached housing units, by 2030 single family houses will comprise about 65 percent all housing units. The city is projected to experience modest growth in the number of rental units. Projections in the HRA housing study show the city more than doubling the number of rental units by 2030 with 1,400 new units. Of these new rental units, nearly 60 percent will be senior rental units, with assisted living units making up about 38 percent of the total new units. Even with this large projected increase in rental units, nearly 90 percent of all housing in Cottage Grove is expected to be owner occupied. In relation to affordable housing, a 2020 Housing Action Plan was adopted by the Cottage Grove City Council in February of 2011 (attached). The Housing Action Plan reflects that between the years of 2011 -2020 the City of Cottage Grove will have a need for 985 new affordable units. The Plan also provides possible initiatives to help attain the housing goal reflected in the Plan. Feedback It would be helpful to receive feedback from the EDA in relation to the following questions: • Does the City of Cottage Grove currently offer an adequate amount of affordable housing? • Should we engage the Washington Co HRA in investigating ways to more proactively create affordable housing? • Are there other segments of housing stock that should more actively be encouraged? • If certain housing needs exist, what role should the City play in creating this type of housing? City of Cottage Grove I. Introduction H. 2020 Goals III. Existing Housing Efforts IV. Financial Assistance Programs V. Housing Development Programs VI. Housing Maintenance Rehabilitation and Redevelopment Programs VII. Local Initiative Programs VIII. Local Controls IX. Authority X. Implementation XI. Summary XII. Appendix City of Cottage Grove Page 2 of 12 2011 Housing Action Plan L Introduction In compliance with direction by the Metropolitan Council, the City has prepared a Housing Action Plan that is in conformance with the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act (LCA) of 1995 (Minnesota Statute 473.25- 473.254). The main goal of the Action Plan is to promote low and moderate income affordable housing within the City of Cottage Grove, and to ensure a balanced range of housing opportunities within the community for people of all ages, incomes, and origins. In October of 2010 the City adopted Resolution 2010 -161 committing to the continued participation in the Local Housing Incentives Program under the Metropolitan Livable Communities Program through 2020. This resolution is attached as Appendix A. One component of this participation is the provision of an updated Housing Action Plan. The City's last Housing Action Plan was completed in 1996. That plan identified a goal of 956 affordable units in Cottage Grove by the year 2010. The amount of affordable housing produced in Cottage Grove between 1996 and 2008 as reported by the Metropolitan Council was 717 total units. This number includes owner - occupied and rental units. The tables below show the numbers for all communities within Washington County and are included for comparative purposes. Affordable Housing Production in the Twin Cities February 2010 Table I Source. Metropolitan Council City of Conge Grove Page 3 of 12 2011 Housing Action Plan AftotdableAwner:hl 1ln9ts >: - Oninmun IMF"" .1998 ':1999 '1000'1003'"2062 "22008. :200$;'-2006 ' 2008 Total ArW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0i 0 0 Cl 0 0 0 Bayport 6 0 i 0 1 3 D GF 1 0 0 0 1 7 Ba;Awn Tv _ 0 0 0 1 0 'i6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 Birdweocd Village 0 2 0 0 D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Cottage Grake 112 99 91 0 31 119 155 371 33 40 0 0 0 71.7 Dellwood 0 0 0 0 0 D 0 OF-0 0 0 0 0 0 E�enrnark Tw . 0 0 0 0 D 0 0 01 0 0 0 1 0 1 Forest Lake 58 10 43 35 200 0 0 01 22 0 15 15 1 159 Grant 1 t 0 0 0 0 0 01 0 0 0 0 0 2 Grey Cloud fsiand Twp 0 01 01 01 0 0 0 01 0 01 01 01 0 0 How 44 5 11 70 162 90 72 54 15 282 1F,3 197 1 1.289 Lake Elmo 0 0 0 Q 0 0 0 6f 0 0 0 1 0 1 Lake St. Groh Beach 0 G 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 takebnd 0 0 0 0 d 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 Lakeland Shares 0 0 0 0 0 D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Landfafl 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 Manton i 0 01 40 0 0 D 01 Qj 0 0 0 30 0 70 Marine on St. Croix 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 May TwT,. 0 0 0 0 0 D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 rseva,on 7 0 7 5 6. 4 3 2 4 0 1 4 o 48 Oak Park Helants 1 0 7 01 01 8 0 0 0 0 0 11 01 0 18 Oakdale 154 72 '441 181 31 36 51 10 23 11 14 71 15 476 Pine Somas 0 0 of 04 0 0 0 C. 0 0 0 0 0 0 scandia 0 0 ol 01 0 0 0 6 0 0 C 0 0 0 3t. Mfiaivs PON 0 0 01 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 St Paul Fork G 0 t 0 5 2 0 28 38 '10 19 2 4 107 StlN,aler 0 0 8 0 10 E2 20 0 40 0 6 17 19 170 Stillwater Two 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 D 0 0 0 0 0 1 West Lakeland Tw 0 0 0 0 0 D 0. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 w3flemle 0 0 0 2 0 7 2 1 0 0 0 0 7 Woodb . 378 331 555 259 36 0 R 44 57 33 ?4 70 42 1.856 Affordable Owner Totals 7a4 527 800 380 311 323 _ 7751 234 876 263 ... 207 4.985 Table I Source. Metropolitan Council City of Conge Grove Page 3 of 12 2011 Housing Action Plan Affordable Housin6 Production in the Twin Cities February 2010 Table 2 Source: Metropolitan Council Through most of the 1996 -2008 period Cottage Grove was on track to meet its goal before the decline in housing production during the later years of the period prevented the City from achieving its goal. The City's allocation of affordable housing for the next ten -year planning cycle is similar to the last goal. Achieving the goals will be challenging until such time as the housing market stabilizes and significant new construction occurs. In order to make the established goals a reality, the information included in Sections II through XII was compiled to identify the means in which the City of Cottage Grove can facilitate the achievement of the established 2020 affordable housing goals. IL 2020 Goals The 2010 City Council goals related to housing are as follows: 9 Ensure that all rental housing units are identified and monitored for code compliance. City of Cottage Grove Page of 12 2011 Housing Action Pan ° =Aifor#adte 1}epjYjl lLttllS Comrslun ".. 4$96 1997. 1958 1999 2000 '20011250212003 ',2004 - 200511"200612007 2003 "Total Anon o 0 D 0 0 Ol al 0 0 0 Ol 01 0 0 Sa=ri 0 0 0 0 0 01 01111 0 0 0 0 0 Baytown Tsa p. 0 0 0 D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Birchwood Village 0 0 D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D 0 0 0 Cottage Grove 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D 0 Detwood 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DenmarK TM. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Forest Lake D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 38 0 0 38 Grant 0 Ol 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Grey Cloud Island Thp. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hugo 0 0 0 Ol 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lake Elmo 0 0 0 Ol 0 01 0 0 0 01 01 0 0 0 LaKe St. Croix Beach 0 0 0 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lakeland 0 0 0 0 D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lakeland Shores 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Landfall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mahtorned'.f 0 0 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 Marine on St. Croix 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D May Two. 0 0 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Nevp ort 0 0 DI 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Oak Park tieigluts 0 0 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D Oakdale 22 18 0% 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 81 Fine Sann s 0 0 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Scandia D 0 01 0 0 0 0. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 St. PAary's Point 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 St. Paul Park 0 0 W 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 StilWater 0 0 01 0 30 50 92 0 G 6 0 0 0 164 Sti0 Ater Tm, 0 0 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 West Lakeland Tikti. 0 0 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Where 0 0 of © =0 0 G 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Woodbury 36 0 0' 0 30' 35 0 0 0 0 0 41 0 142 Affordable Rental TOta15 58 19 30' i 0 90 47 92 4 6 6 3S d1 29 d -75 Table 2 Source: Metropolitan Council Through most of the 1996 -2008 period Cottage Grove was on track to meet its goal before the decline in housing production during the later years of the period prevented the City from achieving its goal. The City's allocation of affordable housing for the next ten -year planning cycle is similar to the last goal. Achieving the goals will be challenging until such time as the housing market stabilizes and significant new construction occurs. In order to make the established goals a reality, the information included in Sections II through XII was compiled to identify the means in which the City of Cottage Grove can facilitate the achievement of the established 2020 affordable housing goals. IL 2020 Goals The 2010 City Council goals related to housing are as follows: 9 Ensure that all rental housing units are identified and monitored for code compliance. City of Cottage Grove Page of 12 2011 Housing Action Pan 8 Aggressively monitor foreclosed properties. • Provide for additional empty nester housing and consider density bonuses to provide for this housing type. • Master plan the Langdon neighborhood including high density and apartment style housing as part of a transit plan. • Provide opportunities for high density townhomes, apartments, and condo projects along with a non- senior assisted living project. It is anticipated that similar goals will be established for 2011. Past City Councils have repeatedly established a community goal to provide life -cycle housing within Cottage Grove. In order to promote low and moderate income affordable housing within the region and specifically the City of Cottage Grove, the Metropolitan Council has established local allocations or goals of affordable housing for each community in the region. Based on current forecast methodology utilized by the Metropolitan Council, the 2020 housing estimate for Cottage Grove is 16,500 households. This is an increase of 3,900 households between 2010 and 2020. The 2020 affordable housing goal for Cottage Grove as established by the Metropolitan Council is 985 total units. This number includes owner- occupied and rental units, and equates to one quarter of the total projected household growth between now and 2020. The tables below are the unit allocations for other communities within Washington County and are included for comparative purposes. 2011 -2420 allocation of Affordable Housing Need by Cityl Township September 2010 3 f I Gammunity New Affordable unit Need Washington County Bayport 29{ Cottage Grove 935 Forest lake s 554. Hugo 1355, Lake Elmo., GSt. Mahlismedi 27, Nevrport Bit Oakdale t343 Oak Pare Heights 23+ �St. Paul Flack 4.381 Stillwater 233' � Wiliernie 2l Table 3 Source. Metropolitan Council City of Cottage Grove Page 5 of 12 2011 Housing Action Plan In order to promote an understanding of what affordable housing actually is, the following information is included: F[)J9 I-It} MED1�E It�F1IP, Household Income Level: Affordable Horne price 80% of area median income $233,000 ($67,200) 60% of area median income $171,000 ($48,540) Bedroom size: * Montbly gross rent including tenant -paid utilities, affordable at 50% of area median income Efficiency _ $ 733 1 bedroom $ 786 2 bedrooms $ 943 3 bedrooms $1,090 4 bedrooms $1,216 Tables 4 and 5 Source: Metropolitan Council One of the goals of the last Housing Action Plan was to provide for senior housing opportunities within the community. This goal has been met with the construction of the 146 -unit Norris Square senior housing complex, the White Pines I and II senior housing facilities that has 86 units, and the Cottages of Cottage Grove that consists of 60 senior rental units. Based on a market study completed by Mayfield Research in 2007, the number of senior housing units that will be required to meet demand by 2030 is 1,003 units. The existing 292 senior units appear to be meeting the current market demand within the community. A continued goal for the 2011 Housing Action plan is for the City to monitor the senior housing needs within the community, and to take appropriate planning actions if it is found that this segment of the population is being underserved. The Housing Chapter of the City's 2030 Comprehensive Plan has a variety of goals and policies related to all housing needs within the community. The chapter is attached as Appendix B. The City will continue to follow these goals and policies in the attempt to maintain existing housing in the city and also ensure that new housing meets the changing needs of the community. The key to these goals becoming a reality is an active and strong real estate market in Cottage Grove. Without City of Cottage Grove Page 6 of 12 2011 Housing Action Plan a strong market, the best intentions and efforts by the City toward meeting these goals may be thwarted. HL Existing Housing Efforts Through the development of the City's 2030 Comprehensive Plan, it was determined that the City has adequate land guided for mixed -use, low, medium, and high density residential to meet the future housing needs until 2030, and the ability to develop at a density that is consistent with regional directives. The City has several zoning districts that are well suited for low and moderate income housing. The availability of land that is moderately priced and is well served by public utilities has led to the construction of many affordable residential developments. Established housing maintenance and rental housing inspection programs currently assist in the preservation of existing housing stock within the community and ensure that decent and affordable housing opportunities are available and integrated within the City. Community oriented police programs are also utilized by the City to help keep crime rates curbed and ensure that all areas of Cottage Grove are safe places in which to live. These programs have proven very effective in neighborhoods that have a high number of affordable rental units and publicly assisted housing. The City also works with the Washington County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA), Two Rivers Land Trust, Habitat for Humanity, and private developers to provide opportunities for affordable housing within the community. The HRA provides a variety of services within Cottage Grove. A list of these services is included as Appendix C. Some of the programs of note are rental assistance, housing counseling, and foreclosure counseling, which are all very appropriate in this economy. There are many federal and state financial assistance programs that are being, have, or will be utilized by the City to assist in the establishment of affordable housing in Cottage Grove. The following section lists a number of the available financial programs and agencies that can assist individuals in obtaining affordable housing. These programs can also be utilized to help influence the real estate market to grow in Cottage Grove. Over the course of the next ten years, the City will promote the available programs to the general public and utilize appropriate assistance programs when facilitating projects that can be better utilized to attain housing goals. Iii Financial Assistance Programs A. Program Information The City currently relies on the Washington County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) to administer all housing assistance within the community. A list of these services is included in Appendix C. For detailed information on the programs and services offered, go to www.wchra.com. Housing assistance programs were created and are available to assist low and moderate income families in obtaining decent housing, suitable living environments, and expanded home ownership possibilities. Many of the programs offer loans with minimum down City of Cottage Grove Page 7 of 12 2011 floosing Action Plan payments and below market interest rates. Other programs actually subsidize housing payments. Additional information on housing assistance programs and other programs listed in this plan can be found at www.wehra.com. B. Program Qualifications The majority of the financial assistance programs in the community are targeted to individuals or families with incomes at 50 to 80 percent of the median income level. Programs that financially assist in the construction of new housing often link program qualification to the availability of housing affordable to people in this income bracket. C. Housing Assistance Programs The following is a listing of housing assistance programs that are potentially available to assist individuals in obtaining home ownership or rental opportunities. 1) Federal Government i) Section 8 Rental Vouchers and Certificate Programs ii) Shelter Plus Care (S +C) 2) Minnesota Housing Finance Agency a) Minnesota Mortgage Program b) Community Activity Set Aside (CASA) Program c) Homeownership Assistance Fund d) HOME HELP e) Homeownership Opportunity Program f) Urban Indian Housing Program, Tribal Indian Housing Program g) Land Acquisition for Affordable New Development (LAAND) Initiative h) Minnesota City Participation Program i) Housing Trust Fund Rental Assistance (HTF -RA) j) Bridges V. Housing Development Programs Housing development programs were created and are available to promote a variety of redevelopment and development activities that provide for additional low and moderate income affordable housing units within communities. The following financial assistance programs are potentially available to assist individual builders in obtaining funding for the development of affordable rental housing within the community. 1) Federal Government a) Public Housing b) Supportive Housing Demonstration Program — Transitional Housing Component c) Federal Home Loan Bank — Affordable Housing Program d) Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) e) Section 202 - Elderly I) Section 811— Handicapped City of Cottage Grove Page 8 of 12 2011 Housing Action Plan 2) Minnesota Housing Finance Agency a) Housing Tax Credit Program (HTC) b) Low and Moderate Income Rental Program (LMIR) c) Economic Development and Challenge Program (EDHC) d) Preservation Affordable Investment Fund (PARIF) e) Publicly Owned Housing Program (POHP) f) Ending Long Term Homelessness Initiative Fund (ELHIF) g) Flexible Financing for Capital Costs (FFCC) h) Land Acquisition for Affordable New Development (LAAND) Initiative 3) Metropolitan Council a) Local Housing Incentives Account b) Livable Communities Demonstration Account c) Land Acquisition for Affordable New Development (LAAND) 4) Family Housing Fund a) Metropolitan Housing Resource Program 5) Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity 6) Community Laud Trusts 7) City of Cottage Grove a) Conduit revenue bonds b) General obligation bonds c) Housing revenue bonds d) Taxable revenue bonds e) Land write -down or sale f) Credit enhancements g) Sanitary sewer rate adjustments h) Demolition ordinances i) Local community mortgage assistance programs j) Mortgage revenue bonds k) Low - income housing tax credits 1) Local fee waivers or reductions m) Local tax abatement n) Local property tax levy o) Tax - increment financing (TIF) VI Housing Maintenance Rehabilitation and Redevelopment Programs Housing maintenance programs were created and are available to acquire, demolish, rehabilitate, or build new low and moderate income affordable housing within targeted blighted residential areas. The following financial assistance programs are potentially available to assist individuals in obtaining funding for maintenance and redevelopment of the existing housing stock within the community. City of Cottage Grove Page 9 of 12 2011 Housing Action Plan 1) Federal Government a) Federal Horne Loan Bank — Affordable Housing Program b) Horne Investment Partnership Program (HOME) c) HOPEIII 2) Minnesota Housing Finance Agency a) Housing Tax Credit Program (HTC) b) Low and Moderate Income Rental Program (LMIR) c) Economic Development and Housing Challenge Program (EDHC) d) Preservation Affordable Investment Fund (PARIF) e) Publicly Owned Housing Program (POHP) f) Ending Long Term Homelessness Initiative Fund (ELHIF) g) Flexible Financing for Capital Costs (FFCC) h) Rental Rehab Loan Program i) Community Revitalization Fund j) Fix -Up Fund k) Community Fix -Up Fund 1) Rehabilitation Loan Program 3) Center for Energy a) Minnesota Fix up Fund b) Home Energy Loan Program c) Rental Energy Loan Fund d) MHFA Rental Rehabilitation Program VIL Local Initiative Programs Local initiative programs were created and are available to financially assist communities in attracting and implementing development or redevelopment programs within their jurisdiction. The following assistance programs are available through cooperation with local governments for the creation of additional low and moderate income housing within communities. 1) Federal Government a) Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) 2) Minnesota Housing Finance Agency a) Non- Profit Capacity Building Revolving Loan Program b) Mortgage Revenue Bonds c) Mortgage Credit Certificates (MCCs) d) Community Reinvestment Act Incentive Program (CRAIP) e) Minnesota's Communities Program 3) City of Cottage Grove a) Tax Increment Financing b) Local HRA Tax Levy c) Local Government Essential Function Bonds City of Cottage Grove Page 10 or 12 2011 Housing Action Plan VIII Local Controls The creation of low and moderate income housing within communities is ultimately market driven. In an attempt to create a favorable housing market climate, Cottage Grove can impact housing opportunities through the promotion of available housing financial assistance programs. Additionally, zoning and land use regulations will encourage a variety of housing opportunities. Expeditious application and approval processes also aid in the attractiveness of the City as a place to develop low and moderate income housing. The City's current regulations on zoning, land use, building construction, and maintenance have all functioned well in the past towards developing Cottage Grove as a diverse community in which to live. The establishment and use of these controls to promote life cycle housing will continue, and controls should balance the community's desire to provide a safe and attractive environment in which to live and the regional goals for affordable housing. The existing Housing Element of the City's Comprehensive plan, which was created prior to the adoption of the LCA, has several specific goals and policies targeting life -cycle housing. The first goal of the Element states that the City will "utilize the Uniform Building Code and the City's Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations to maximize the opportunities for an adequate supply of safe, sanitary, decent, and aesthetically pleasing housing, as well as a choice of housing types and residential locations, in price ranges affordable to all individuals who wish to live in Cottage Grove." The City has been actively striving to meet this goal since its inception. IX Authority A. Authority Many housing assistance programs require local government administrations. Minnesota tax increment statutes allow cities to develop low and moderate income rental units and owner occupied housing through utilization of tax increment programs. The County HRA can utilize tax levies to accomplish assistance programs. B. Cooperatives Cottage Grove relies heavily on the Washington County HRA to coordinate the availability of housing assistance programs in the community. C. Activities The Washington County HRA is actively involved in assisting individuals in finding affordable housing in Cottage Grove. X. Implementation After the 2010 census information is obtained, the City will analyze the housing changes that have occurred since 2000 and determine if any additional measures or actions are required to meet the established housing goals. On a continuing annual basis the City will strive to meet or exceed the housing goals. The following lists the primary tasks for achievement of the City's housing goals: City of Cottage Grove Page I1 of 12 2011 Housing Action Plan 1) The first priority of the City will be to increase the education and public awareness of the different housing financial assistance programs available to individuals in the Community. 2) The second priority will be to review the local controls in relation to the promotion of low and moderate income housing. 3) The third priority will be to ensure that there is an adequate amount of land available that is designated for medium and high density residential development. 4) The fourth priority is to provide for flexible development standards. XI. Summary When the housing market returns to the new normal and new development begins to steadily occur in the community, the City recognizes the need to scrutinize all development requirements and policies and to allow for reasonable flexibility in the process when warranted in order to create viable developments that meet all housing needs of the community. The completion of this Action Plan and involvement in the Metropolitan Livable Communities Program by the City of Cottage Grove shows another aspect of the community's desire to provide balanced non - exclusionary housing opportunities for all types of people within the community. XII. Appendix Appendix A — Resolution 2010 -161 Appendix B — 2030 Comprehensive Plan Housing Chapter Appendix C — HRA's Livable Communities Action Plan City of Cottage Grove Page 12 of 12 2011 Housing Action Plan