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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMISC INFO 2015-09-28§nk 22 _ ,$\ k } \ 2k {)° - -_ _ ma \ \ k \ §5; Co �5 i2 ( . \) \ 0 2 ©/ \\\ ) \) \{ 0 } 22 _ ,$\ k {)° - -_ _ \ \ k \ §5; Co �5 i2 ( . 2 ©/ \\\ ) } G \ / /a /k�\ & )§)\(_t© -�- te ! \ o :&;{ C-) /( (3.) cnW L co L �-/1 V/ L cn cz L cm cn 0 cz amm a c o C C C N N o m p p O o'O '� m� > E c i O oU p «O Ol n Q O ro w m a J X E >romo�o Ecm =N o v v N ro s y N m E c m U c o N y -0 N 0> O ✓i O a 4 O p_ Uai >j O 0 7° m N a H ro N L lU J o d O N m N ro U� aO �-pp O ro o L cO oo a 3vw« pma�o« Jo c o N c o a ro o a ro c.c o° o m m m �3 Ohm Ectl E� °Lv,ma > �¢ oco �c ` s.?a Qami�m covro aooN mm Fa=ro aS m:. O..-`tl3 ¢mom O N Y N N U m« O 0 C d N O N m m Irv -N22 0 "O ¢ N nN a U m O ° aC O ro C N N O C N U L m E E- C ro 0 a 0 0>i T o O J` N O m as o mo X ro v E w« a m m s 3 0 02 mv-Om .o o¢wro apo7F m cmc 3�:�0 mm =c°1 'ov NE- nmE>'O ° rocm Uo0oa.a' sm0 s0oom o-°ro Joro smcy'ov F- m� FN U W >; m aEOn F� m U naL. O O t O U Lou Oa JI -a roL p a U m i � E 10 W E v ° v a p n a d m U) 0 y N c U 3 �pvnoo� ono nam $ CO!O w N a r C>_ d naro«C-O � n c W -D m c ma m o av - o m cEttlooLm�- D o m O p m E aCi n.U id WE m aJ'U aO-vn '-�cEccm>> y c Y E J c v v M E ooa:S «E d m E .N c t° m"av 0 - Q o E= ro m U Q° a 0 3 w v O m O N O j"0 p' ro w o o 3 o 2.9 Y w ro C N n L 0 N m o r~ m 3 o tiO El co m Q'd-0 M'<- m > p w ro « N _ N S C U! C W m 0 c O J a w ro�5 N N N m 3 om�m(Lca= r C_ O N 0 cao'ro a�-Oa p 3 mN o a c go t M o m> O C C `% m~ E r E rnc ro s c m N m O J._ L C m >. M aU¢:5 31D1)n �•a Local planning process ready for kickoff Planners never seem to stop planning. They are driven by a desire to improve their communities and make processes smoother and more logical. The Metropolitan Land Planning Act requires that every community in the seven -county metro area prepare Adam Cuininck and submit, every 10 years, a comprehensive plan to the Metropolitan FROM THE CHAIR Council, These plans outline each community's plans for future growth and development in response to the Council's regional development guide. Our staff is currently preparing System Statements, which are individualized for each community in the region. The System Statements explain how Thrive MSP 2040 and our system and policy plans affect each community. After receiving their System Statements by the end of September, communities have three years to prepare and complete their local plans. Many cities have professional staff to do this work. and need little help from the Council, but smaller communities often need additional resources. That's where our plannersand community development teams come in. This fall we are unveiling an improved online clearinghouse of guidance, information, and technical assistance for communities who are working to complete their comprehensive plans. The Local Planning Handbook will include a resource library on subjects like transportation, housing, parks, and land use. Simple, plain -language "how to" sections will help local planners and officials understand what is required to be included in their local plans. Staff contact information will connect community planners with personalized technical assistance. For communities that want to go beyond the requirements, the Handbook will provide additional data, resources, and tools. Testing on the Handbook has been ongoing for the past six months with the help of focus groups made up of planning staff and local consultants from across the region. Our staff has developed these resources in response to the needs local planners identified in surveys about the 2008 process and in recent surveys. These resources are meant to make the local planning process as easy as possible. Central cities lead growth Suburban Edge 4% Rural Service Area Urban Center (Minneapolis & Saint Paul) Urban Center (an others) (e.g., Hopkins, West St. Paul) ouuu. um' (e.g., Edina, Roseville) Graph shows share of regional population growth between 2010 and 2014, by Thrive MSP 2040 Community Designations. The seven -county Twin Cities metro region grew by about 130,000 people between April 2010 and April 2014, according to population estimates issued by the Metropolitan Council in July. Minneapolis and Saint Paul have led the region in population growth since 2010. Both cities now have the highest population they've had since the 1970s. Together, the two cities accounted for 33% of the region's population growth since 2010, The growing population in the central cities reflects both an increased preference for walkable, amenity -rich neighborhoods and the new residential construction along the METRO Green Line. But while the central cities led in population growth, growth occurred in a balanced fashion across the region. Urban, Suburban, Suburban Edge, and Emerging Suburban Edge communities (designations in Thrive MSP 2040) all grew at a healthy pace between 2010 and 2014. Visit metrocouncil.org for details. "Webber Regional housing plan amendment guides local plans When the 2040 Housing Policy Plan county staff, elected officials, and launch the local planning process, was adopted in December 2014, the developers, and housing advocates," so that local and regional plans are Council indicated it would amend said Libby Starling, the Council's consistent. the plan in 2015 to include additional Manager of Regional Policy and information. The Council approved the Research. amendment in July. The housing plan is the region's first in nearly 30 years. It provides guidance to local officials as they address housing and housing affordability in their local comprehensive plans. Council officials say the amendment will help local communities plan by clarifying: • The need for affordable housing. • What communities must include in the housing element of local comprehensive plans. • How the Council will review the housing element. "The Council developed the language in this amendment in partnership with working groups made up of city and "These are people who well understand the kind of guidance that would be helpful to local planners, and appreciate the need for and challenges of creating housing opportunities for people of all incomes and life stages," Starling said. The plan amendment includes the Affordable Housing Need for the region overall in the 2021-2030 decade, and the allocation of affordable housing need for each metro area community. Starling says information about housing need will be included in System Statements that metro area communities will receive from the Council in September. The System Statements will inform local planning Regional Solicitation process yields good results Local officials had high praise for the process that netted The 51 projects selected include investment in all seven $177 million in local transportation projects slatedfor counties in the region, in 40 different cities and townships. construction throughout the region in 2017-2019. Many of the projects include multimodal elements, such as trails or sidewalks. The region's Transportation Advisory Board (TAB). selected, in a competitive process called the Regional Solicitation, a "The projects selected were not only a balanced approach host of transportation projects from across the region. The regionally, but also addressed meaningful transportation TAB placed the projects into the 2016-2019 Transportation infrastructure needs for the region," said Carver County Improvement Program (TIP) to receive federal funding, and Commissioner Randy Maluchnik. adopted the TIP in August. The next full Regional Solicitation will take place in the Projects selected include local highway, transit, bikeway, spring of 2016 for projects seeking funding for 2020-21. pedestrian enhancements, and air quality improvement A small solicitation for travel demand management projects projects in the metro area that local units of government is open until Sept. 11. submitted for funding consideration. They will leverage an additional $132 million in local matching funds. Housing near transit: a winning combination In 2010, it was a vision. Five years interests of the community and region later, Lake Street Station Apartments as well." is not only reality; for many seniors it is home. Located near the Blue Line in Minneapolis, the complex includes 64 affordable apartments for senior residents. Just steps away from transit, shopping, restaurants, and the nearby YWCA, it's a gateway to. a. wide range of activities and opportunities. "It's really exciting to see investment happening all along the rail corridors," said Metropolitan Council Member Cara Letofsky, Minneapolis, at a July grand opening and ribbon -cutting event. "Lake Street Station Apartments gives residents access to transportation, amenities, entertainment, and services," Letofsky said. "It ensures mobility and independence and provides quality housing that's affordable. Bottom line, this development contributes not only to the quality of life and well being of the residents who live here, but serve the In 2010, the Council awarded the City of Minneapolis over $1 million in Livable Communities funds for various elements of the development. Wellington Management took it from there, building the $12 million complex on the small Hi -Lake Triangle near the Lake Street Midtown Station, incorporating features like a covered pathway to the station platform, and a stormwater system that doubles as a water feature. "This particular project was fairly complicated in terms of financing and land assembly," said Steve Wellington. "The concept behind it, however, is pretty simple; connect the places where people live with the places they want to go. It's cost effective, desirable, and marketable." Council officials say the benefits of the development are many, helping to achieve regional goals of affordable housing, enhancing community and livability, and promoting prosperity and vitality.