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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Packet 01-30-1996 SpecialI. H. 1996 LEGISLATIVE DINNER JANUARY 30, 1996 6:00 P.M. Public Safety Training Room Welcome and Introductions Mayor Tierney Legislative Issues Transit/Metro Mobility Fred Moore Housing Goals/Livable Communities Anne Hurlburt Wetlands Act Proposals Anne Hurlburt Tax Base Equalization Dwight Johnson Tax Increment Financing Dale Hahn Elections Kathy Lueckert M. Open Discussion City of Plymouth 1996 Legislative Issues Transit/Metro Mobility The City remains very concerned about the provision of paratransit services to Plymouth residents. This service was slated to end on October 1, 1995. However, an agreement was reached with the Metropolitan Council to continue the service through 1996. Although consideration of paratransit services throughout the region may not be appropriate in this year's short session, the City is interested in a supplemental appropriation to fund paratransit services through June 1997. Attachment I explains the City's concerns in greater detail. Action Requested.- Keep the City apprised of any legislation involving the provision ofparatransit services. Staff Contact. John Sweeney, Transit Administrator, 509-5521 Housing Goals and Livable Communities In the 1995 session, the Legislature passed the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act MLCA). The Act provides incentives for metro area cities to adopt goals and develop strategies to increase housing diversity and affordability in their communities. The first step for implementation of the MLCA was for cities to elect to participate, then negotiate with the Metropolitan Council to develop housing goals within the areas of affordability, diversity, and density. Plymouth adopted a housing goals agreement (Attachment II) which is included in this packet. Some of the issues identified in Plymouth's housing goals agreement include: there is a small amount of land within the existing urban service area available for residential development, contributing to increasing prices and reducing opportunities for all types of new housing. property values of existing homes continue to increase faster than the Metro Area average, putting more of the existing housing stock out of reach of lower income families. a very low vacancy rate in rental housing is accompanied by rising rent levels, while tax laws make new multi -family construction difficult. . d The next step will be for the City to adopt housing strategies in the form of an "action plan" which must be submitted to the Metropolitan Council by June 30, 1996. Attachment III addresses the Metropolitan Livable Communities Fund and theMHFA Project Selection Criteria. The Metropolitan Council currently is in the process of developing criteria for use of housing funds provided by the MLCA. Staff is monitoring this process to determine what opportunities may be afforded for meeting the City's goals. Action Requested. • Receive the information on the City's housing goals and keep the City informed of any legislation which may impact actions taken so far. Staff Contact: Ed Goldsmith, HRA Supervisor, 509-5412 Wetland Act Proposals There are several bills pending which would amend the Wetlands Protection Act. Staff is most familiar with the Munger bill (BF2006). This bill contains some provisions that would appear to provide more flexibility for public transportation projects, clarify when replacement plans are required and streamline some of the permitting process. The Munger bill would also allow upland buffers and treatment ponds to be used for some required wetland mitigation. The AMM and other organizations representing cities are in favor of some of these changes. Early in 1995, Plymouth conducted an extensive project to document and evaluate the function and quality of all of its wetlands. A significant amount (21%) of Plymouth's land area is wetland. The City adopted a wetland protection ordinance which provides for buffers and setbacks around all wetlands. This ordinance is coordinated with the state Wetlands Protection Act, so any changes in state regulations would affect Plymouth's ordinance. Action Requested. • Keep the City apprised of any significant changes to the current Wetlands Protection Act. Staff Contact. Anne Hurlburt, Community Development Director 509-5401 Tax Base Equalization 1 Representative Orfield has introduced legislation on tax base equalization. The effect of this bill would be to raise property taxes in municipalities like Plymouth which have substantial residential homestead market value over $200,000. An increase in property taxes would adversely impact the City's ability to meet affordable housing goals. The proposed legislation does not base increases or decreases in property tax on a household's ability to pay; the net effect would be that low income households in the suburbs would see property taxes increase while wealthy homeowners in St. Paul would experience a property tax decrease. It also may possibly discourage development, since cities would be penalized for adding value to the community. The City strongly opposes tax base equalization legislation. Action Requested: Keep the City apprised of discussions on Representative Orfield's bill. Staff Contact: Dwight Johnson, City Manager, 509-5051. Tax Increment Financing During 1995, the City of Plymouth updated its TIF plan and reaffirmed the City's commitment to the various planned projects. Many of these proposed projects are essential to the thoroughfare guide plan of the City, and cannot be accomplished without TIF financing. The City believes that any changes to TIF should not apply to existing TIF districts. Action Requested: Keep City staff aware ofpotential changes to Tax Increment Financing. Staff Contact: Dale Hahn, Finance Director, 509-5301 Elections If a referendum on Metropolitan Sports Facilities is held during 1996, the City supports adding the referendum question to the September primary or the November general election. Either of these dates would not require additional funding to run the election. The City understands that an amendment to a bill may be introduced which would require cities, counties, and school districts to hold elections only in odd numbered years. The City's charter calls for elections in even numbered years. This was done to assure a good turnout and to save costs. The City is opposed to any legislation which would compel us to hold odd year elections. The City is also interested in legislation which would streamline the absentee voting process. Action Requested. • Keep City staff aware of the status of legislation. 1 Staff Contact. Laurie Ahrens, City Clerk, 509-5080. aua'alwA+ 1 DATE: January 25, 1996 TO: Dwight D. Johnson, City Manager 4J_ FROM: Fred G. Moore, P.E., Director of Public Works SUBJECT: FUNDING OF PARATRANSIT SERVICE (METRO MOBILITY) 1. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM AND ISSUF,: Paratransit service (Metro Mobility) was proposed to be discontinued for Plymouth citizens on October 1, 1995. This service is provided to the majority of the Metropolitan area by the Metropolitan Council. Under the American Disabilities Act (ADA) the Metropolitan Council was not required to provide this service within the City of Plymouth since there are no fixed mid-day Transit routes. Funding for this service is provided to the Metropolitan Council by the State and because of budget shortfalls, they proposes to eliminate service in eight cities. In order to continue service to the disabled, many of which rely on Transit as their only means of transportation, Plymouth reached an agreement with the Metropolitan Council to continue the service through June, 1996. As part of the agreement, both Plymouth and the Metropolitan Council share about equally in the cost. The estimated cost for the nine month period is $314,000. Attached is a memorandum dated September 7, 1995 giving more details of the cost sharing agreement for the continuation of service. Also attached is a letter dated July 19, 1995 to the Metropolitan Council from Mayor Tierney on the proposed discontinuation of service. The legislators who represent Plymouth also received this letter. WENGMANSMMEMOSTUNDING. DOC SUBJECT: FUNDING OF PARATRANSIT SERVICE (METRO MOBILITY) W 2. DISCUSSION: The funding for the interim service is coming from property tax dollars for both Plymouth and the Metropolitan Council. The majority of the funding for other Paratransit service within the Metropolitan area and in the State is not provided from property tax dollars, but is provided from other State or Federal revenues. It is the shortfall in the State funding that resulted in the cutback of service in Plymouth and other cities throughout the Metropolitan area. Also, throughout the entire service area there was a cutback in service hours and an increase in the fee charged to the rider. The shortfall in funding has not only affected the Metro Mobility service operated by the Metropolitan Council, but has affected the many other adjacent service providers which connect through Metro Mobility in order that a rider can ride to and from a destination in the entire Metropolitan area. Three of the other larger providers are Dakota County (DARTS), Scott County, and the Anoka Traveler. 1 MM 010117.111 COM During this short legislative session, it is not appropriate to consider the overall policy issues related to Paratransit service throughout the entire Metropolitan area and greater Minnesota. It would be appropriate for a supplemental appropriation for Paratransit services to continue the program which existed prior to October, 1995 through June, 1997. The legislature could then address the entire policy issue during 1997. During the interim the Metropolitan Council could also be directed to prepare a proposed plan for Paratransit service. The preparation of this plan should involve all of the service providers within the area. In discussing the amount of the supplemental appropriation with the consultant to our Transit service we estimate the amount needed would be $1,000,000 to $2,000,000. attachments G AENGMANSInMEMOSTUNDING. DOC Agenda Number: z - For Expenditures Exceeding $15,000 DATE: September 7, 1995 for the City Council Meeting of September 12, 1995 TO: Dwight D. Johnson, City Manager FROM: Fred G. Moore, Director of Public Works SUBJECT: CONTINUATION OF PARATRANSIT SERVICE (METRO MOBILITY) 1. PROPOSED MOTION: Make a motion to adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Manager to enter into an agreement with the Metropolitan Council to provide Paratransit service within the City effective October 1, 1995 through June 30, 1996. 2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM, ISSUE, OR PROJECT: As a result of shortage of State funding to continue the existing Paratransit service (Metro Mobility) as it has previously operated, the Metropolitan Council has made reductions in the service. They will also be increasing fares. The change in hours of operation will affect the entire service area. There are seven communities where total service is proposed to be discontinued since it is not legally required to be provided by the Metropolitan Council under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Plymouth is one of these seven cities. In July the Metropolitan Council voted to discontinue this service in Plymouth but directed their staff to work with the City on a program to provide a continuation of service. Currently there are approximately 2,300 monthly Paratransit trips with either a beginning or ending destination within Plymouth. 3. ALTERNATIVES: City staff investigated and considered the following options: Choose not to provide a Paratransit service. Implement a mid day fixed route transit service which could make Plymouth eligible for Metro Mobility Service. Contract with Met Council for Metro Mobility service. Expand the existing Dial -A -Ride service, provide accessible Dial -A -Ride vehicles, and implement a limited Paratransit service with connections into the Metro Mobility system at Ridgedale or other connecting points. CoWUPARMOC SUBJECT: CONTINUATION OF PARATRANSIT SERVICE (METRO MOBILITY Page Two Implement a Paratransit Program, including the establishment of a dispatch center. 4. DISCUSSION: The cutback in service is a result of inadequate funding provided by the State Legislature. Before a decision is made by the City to establish a long term Paratransit Program the City should work with the Metropolitan Council and other affected communities to obtain adequate funding for a uniform program throughout the Metropolitan area. For this reason, it is staff's recommendation that we enter into an agreement with the Metropolitan Council to continue the Metro Mobility service in Plymouth. This service would be changed to the same operating hours as the remainder of the Metropolitan system. To implement this recommendation, staff has negotiated an agreement with the Metropolitan Council staff for this interim service. Attached is the proposed agreement. The major provisions of the agreement are as follows: The agreement is for a period from October 1, 1995 through June 30, 1996. Either party can terminate the agreement upon 90 days written notice. Either party can terminate the agreement immediately as a result of lack of funding. Plymouth is responsible to pay the subsidy cost for all trips beginning within the City. This is estimated to be 53 % of the total trips. The Metropolitan Council will pay the subsidy costs for all trips beginning outside the City but have an ending destination within the City. This is estimated to be 47 % of the total trips. The City of Plymouth can fund our portion of the cost for the service from our unbudgeted Transit Tax Levy (Opt -Out). 5. BUDGET IlAPACTS: The estimated cost for this service for the nine month period is as follows: City Cost: $166,354 Metropolitan Council Cost: 147,521 Total $313,875 COWUPAR.DOC SUBJECT: CONTINUATION OF PARATRANSIT SERVICE (METRO MOBILITY) Page Three The City's share of the cost, $166,354, will come from our unbudgeted Tax Funds which are levied as part of the transit tax (Opt -Out). We estimate that there will be $305,000 of unbudgeted funds. At the end of the year one-half of the unbudgeted funds are taken by the Metropolitan Council and placed in the overall Transit System Account. For this reason the actual expenditure from our Transit system will be $83,000. 6. RECOMMENDATIONS: A Paratransit service is a much needed service for our residents and businesses. They have relied on the service which has been provided for many years by the Metropolitan system. It would be a hardship to completely discontinue service. It is the staff recommendation that we enter into an agreement with Metropolitan Council to provide service for an interim period while the City and Metropolitan Council work with the legislature to obtain adequate funding for the entire system. If adequate funding is not provided by the State, then staff will develop other alternatives and make recommendations to the City Council before the service is continued beyond the terms of the proposed agreement. Ar_ Fred G. Moore, P.E. Director of Public Works attachments: Resolution Proposed Agreement MhTUPARMOC CITY OF PLYMOUTFF July 19, 1995 Metropolitan Council Mears Park Centre 230 East Fifth Street St. Paul, MN 55101-1634 Dear Council Members: The City of Plymouth has a number of concerns regarding the proposed elimination of funding for Metro Mobility Service in Plymouth and other cities. First, Metro Mobility is intended to be a state funded service. We are concerned by the precedent created by any proposal that circumvents this legislative intention. Current proposals would have the effect of shifting Metro Mobility costs to regional or local property tax payers. Second, even though ADA requirements may allow for reduction or elimination of Metro Mobility service in Plymouth, this does not mean this is an equitable solution. Our residents pay the same state, regional, and local taxes as anyone else and need the same level of service as any other place. Plymouth and a few other cities should not be singled out for elimination of service simply because it might be legal to do so, Third, the Metropolitan Council should consider the unintended consequences that might occur with elimination of Metro Mobility funding. Even if Plymouth could provide some of the service, which is not yet known; our local funding for transit would be so stretched that growth in other transit services would be impossible. Extension of service for affordable housing and continuation of our current reverse commuting routes would certainly be affected. Our ability to meet our obligations under the Elm Creek Cluster Planning process would be substantially limited. Finally, if funding for Metro Mobility Service is curtailed or eliminated, it is essential that Plymouth retain the ability to use all of its 90% funding and to use its reserves from prior years. We cannot be expected to assume any new obligations without having the tax dollars we are now paying for transit returned to us. We Llsten • We Solve • We Care 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447 o TELEPHONE (612) 550-5000 Please reconsider the precedent, the fairness, and the unintended consequences of a major change in funding for Metro Mobility in Plymouth. An across the board review of the level of Metro Mobility Service would seem to be a more appropriate course of action. The Metropolitan Council should allow time for the next Legislature to address the funding problems before drastic changes in service are implemented. Also, Plymouth had over 3110 Metro Mobility trips in May. We have many businesses such as Opportunity Workshop and many special residential areas in need of Metro Mobility services. Considerable study is needed before any vote is taken to eliminate this vital service. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Mayor Joy Tierney City of Plymouth cc: Senator Gen Olson Senator Warren Limmer Senator Martha Robertson Representative Ron Abrams Representative Peggy Leppik Representative Richard Stanek Representative H. Todd Van Dellen 10 a4"kwvw _: r CITY OF PLYMOUTH HOUSING GOALS AGREEMENT METROPOLITAN LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ACT PRINCIPLES The City of Plymouth supports: A balanced housing supply, with housing available for people at all income levels. 2. The accommodation of all racial and ethnic groups in the purchase, sale, rental and location of housing within the community. 3. A variety of housing types for people in all stages of the life -cycle. 4. A community of well-maintained housing and neighborhoods, including ownership and rental housing. 5. Housing development that respects the natural environment of the community while striving to accommodate the need for a variety of housing types and costs. 6. The availability of a full range of services and facilities for its residents, and the improvement of access to and linkage between housing, transportation and employment. GOALS In 1996, the City of Plymouth will revise the Housing Element of its Comprehensive Plan. As part of the planning process, the City will assess the housing needs of the community and identify specific actions needed to achieve the goals identified by the Plan. The goals set forth in this agreement, as shown on Exhibit A, attached, will be refined and adjusted as necessary before the City submits the Housing Element to the Metropolitan Council for its review pursuant to the Metropolitan Land Planning Act and to fulfill the requirements for an action plan pursuant to the Livable Communities Act. In further developing its goals to carry out the above housing principles, the City of Plymouth agrees to continue to consider the benchmark indicators for communities of similar location and stage of development and to make its best efforts, given market conditions and resource availability, to remain within or make progress toward these benchmarks. A: Affordability: 1. Rental Units: Plymouth will work toward expanding the share of its rental housing affordable to low and moderate income families. Plymouth will work to make 35 percent of its new rental housing affordable to families earning no more than 50 percent of the regional median income. In addition, a significant portion of these new rental units should be affordable to very low income households. The limited availability of land for development will be significant barrier to constructing new, affordable rental housing in Plymouth. Another significant barrier is the economic and tax climate that makes new construction of any new rental housing very difficult. Since 1990, it is estimated that only 8 percent of new housing built in Plymouth is rented, even though vacancy rates are very low. Of the new units built since 1990, about 26 percent are affordable at 50 percent of median income. All of these units are in Plymouth Towne Square, a senior housing project owned and subsidized by the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA.) An additional 31 percent of the new units are affordable between 50 and 60 percent of median income. These units include units at Plymouth Towne Square and a 64 -unit tax -credit project for families, Lakeview Commons. A total of City of Plymouth Housing Goals Agreement December 5, 1995 57 percent of new rental units built since 1990 in Plymouth are affordable at the 60 percent of median income level or less. In addition to new construction, the expansion of affordable rental housing may be accomplished through additional section 8 existing housing certificates or vouchers, or other creative efforts by the City to make existing rental housing in Plymouth more affordable. Recently, the City conditioned its approval of the refinancing of a City revenue bond issue, in exchange for a guarantee of affordable rent levels within the complex. In this project, 21 units are guaranteed to be affordable to renters below 60 percent of median income during the 40 -year life of the bond sale. This an example of local efforts that can increase the number of affordable units without building new ones. Recognizing that rent levels are high, the HRA has also pursued and gained HUD approval for "exception rents" for its section 8 program, which has made more Plymouth housing accessible for program participants. The City and its HRA will continue to explore ways to expand affordable housing through use of its CDBG funds and other programs. 2. Owner Occupied: There are severe limitations for construction of new affordable ownership housing construction in Plymouth. Recent experience of the City has been that only 8 percent of new housing built in the 1990's is considered affordable at 1995 values. The City's goal is to increase the construction of new affordable units from 8 percent to 21 percent, which is equivalent to the percent of the city's owner -occupied housing that was built in the 1980s which is affordable today. In 1994 according to Metropolitan Council data, 42 percent of Plymouth's homesteaded housing was valued at $115,000 or less. This is in contrast to the benchmarks of 69 percent for all developing area suburbs and 77 percent for all communities in the Northwest Minneapolis planning sector. In 1995, based on the City's own data, 33 percent of the City's housing was valued less than $118,000, the Metropolitan Council's housing affordability benchmark value for 1995. Plymouth has a smaller proportion of affordable owner occupied housing than other Northwest planning sector communities for a number of reasons. According to Metropolitan Council data, onl} 26 percent of Plymouth's owner occupied housing was built before 1970, compared to 46 percent in the sector as a whole and 36 percent for developing communities. Of the Plymouth housing built before 1970, 58 percent is affordable in 1995. Of the housing built since 1970, however, only 25 percent is affordable. Affordability is strongly related to the age of the housing stock. Recent changes in the housing market have also influenced the housing affordability statistics for Plymouth. Of the units built in the 1970's, 40 percent are affordable (valued less than $118,000) in 1995. Of the units built in the 1980's, 21 percent are affordable in 1995. Of the units built in the 1990's, only 8 percent are affordable. There were no significant changes in the city's planning and zoning practices since the 1970's that would account for this reduction in affordability. (New environmental regulations adopted in 1995 have not come fully into effect.) Density and lot size requirements are similar, and the City has increased the use of Planned Unit Development to provide development flexibility. There has, however, been an escalation of land prices and a surge in demand for larger, more expensive ($148,000 and above) single family homes. The strong market for existing housing in the City has meant that the values of existing units have been steadily increasing. For example, increases in residential values from 1994 to 1995 were in the 4 to 9 percent range, with an average increase of about 5 percent. In Minneapolis, the average appreciation in residential values was near zero. N City of Plymouth Housing Goals Agreement December 5, 1995 Plymouth will do what it can to influence housing costs, recognizing that since 1991 only approximately 40 percent of new construction ownership housing in the region has sold for $115,000 or less, a level affordable to households at approximately 80 percent of regional median income. Because land costs in Plymouth make single family detached homes at this cost almost impossible to develop, most of the new affordable ownership units will be attached housing, i.e., townhomes and condominiums built at higher density to reduce per unit costs. The limited availability of land for development will be a significant barrier to constructing new, affordable housing in Plymouth. There is currently about 1,100 acres of vacant land planned for residential uses within the City's urban service area. Of that, about 875 acres (80 percent) has already been subdivided or has been approved for development. Only about 225 acres remain, of which about 60 acres (one fourth) is wetland or floodplain. And, the remaining property is in small tracts (average less than 2.5 acres of upland in size) that are not attractive to larger -scale developers. In addition to new construction, an important element of the City 's affordable ownership housing efforts will be to encourage retention of its existing supply of affordable housing, as this housing will be impossible to replace. The City, through its HRA, has also implemented programs to make existing housing more affordable, such as providing subsidies to first time buyers to bring purchase prices to within an affordable range. As of September 1; 1995, Plymouth had assisted 167 low -and - moderate income households with its home rehabilitation loan program and 55 households with its First Time Homebuyer program. B: Life -Cycle: 1. Diversity: Plymouth currently has substantial diversification in its housing stock. It recognizes that the new construction housing market and increasing life -cycle housing demands may mean continued development of multifamily housing, especially townhomes and condominiums. For the period 1996 through 2010, the City will make every effort to maintain the non -single family detached share of its housing as at least 34 percent of its housing stock, the level of diversification found in developing suburbs and suburbs in Plymouth's geographic area. If necessary to accommodate this diversification, Plymouth may make land use and/or zoning changes to ensure that there is enough land for continued multifamily housing development. As noted above, most of the vacant land within Plymouth's urban service area has already been subdivided or received development approvals. A review of approved lots and developments indicates that about 43 percent of the units currently approved, but not yet built, are multiple family units. And, of the vacant land that does not yet have development approvals, over half of the property is planned to allow dwellings other than single Ifamily detached units. 2. Owner/Renter Mix: The City cannot directly control whether housing is rented or sold to an owner -occupant. The City will work to maintain an owner/renter mix of 75/25 percent, through its land use controls, approvals process and participation in housing development programs. Significant rental housing does exist in Plymouth, most of it built at a time when state and federal tax laws were more favorable to construction of rental properties. Very few rental units have been built in Plymouth since 1990 (283 units of a total of 3,666 units, or about 8 percent.) The City has recently approved development projects for rental housing, including a market -rate rental project 200+ units) which has not been built due to factors outside of the City's control. 3 City of Plymouth Housing Goals Agreement December 5, 1995 Preserving the quality of the existing rental housing stock in Plymouth is a top priority. The City's housing maintenance code and the active Plymouth Apartment Managers Association are evidence of the City's commitment. C: Density: Plymouth will establish density goals for new development that attempt to equal or exceed the current gross density of development: approximately 2 units per acre of upland for single family development and 10 units per acre of upland for multiple family development, These goals recognize the amount of wetlands, shorelands and wetland buffers that affect the remaining property to be developed in Plymouth. Detailed policies and regulations needed to achieve the goals will be developed as part of the Housing Element and the Zoning Ordinance revisions that are planned for early 1996. The Metropolitan Council has estimated the density of single family detached units in Plymouth at 1.8 units per acre, including road rights-of-way but excluding wetlands. Comparable data from the City's own GIS is not available, because we exclude rights-of-way from the residential land use category. However, by estimating the amount of road rights-of-way within residential areas, we have estimated the density to be about 1.99 units per acre, based on an estimate of the amount of road rights-of-way within residential areas. Because of the large number of wetlands in the City, the gross density including wetlands) is less; about 1.86 units per acre. Comparable data is not available from other cities included in calculating the benchmark, but it appears that based on City data Plymouth is within the benchmark. Similarly, the Metropolitan Council estimates the multiple family density in Plymouth at 8 units per acres. The City GIS data shows the density to be about 10.75 units per acre. Again, this is within the benchmark range of 10 to 11 units per acre. Plymouth recognizes that it may be desirable to increase densities in some areas to reduce land cost for new construction, to use public services more efficiently, to increase the feasibility of transit, and to generally promote compact and efficient development. Plymouth also recognizes that increasing protection of natural resources, particularly wetlands, may require limiting the intensity of development in sensitive areas. Efficient use of the land must be balanced with environmental protection. Increased environmental protection is one factor that has led to a decrease in density of new residential development in Plymouth in recent years. Another factor is that as Plymouth's land has been consumed for development, sites with more wetlands or difficult soil conditions that were initially skipped over are now being developed. Data from a sample of recent single family, multiple family, and mixed residential developments approved in the last several years shows that the net densities of these developments has been less than the city-wide averages: 1.84 units per net single family acre and 6.79 units per net multiple family acre. Of the available, vacant land within the urban service area, fully one-fourth of the area is wetland or floodplain. It is also divided into small tracts, making efficient subdivision more difficult. The City adopted a wetland buffer ordinance in early 1995, and all new developments will be required to comply with these new restrictions. Increasing densities, or even maintaining the current city-wide average will be very difficult as these remaining sites are developed. 4 City of Plymouth Housing Goals Agreement December 5, 1995 To achieve the goals set forth in Exhibit A, attached, the City of Plymouth will make its best efforts to increase the availability of affordable and life -cycles housing and maintain the level of diversity of housing types already present in the community. However, the City cannot control the housing market in Plymouth and can only produce small amounts of housing through its HRA. It can, however, influence housing production and can proactively work to achieve its goals through its use of official controls, public service requirements, local approvals process and the use of available housing assistance programs. The new housing contemplated in this agreement will occur on lak d yet to be developed within the existing MUSA boundary. There has been no decision by either the City lof Plymouth or the Metropolitan Council on the extent, timing or location of any MUSA expansion. This agr ement does not imply that such an expansion will take place. The proposed goals do not apply to land outside the MUSA boundary, because the City does not have an urban land use plan for that area. The City is now engaged in a Ind use planning process for the area outside the MUSA. The City will develop housing goals for that area if USA expansions are proposed upon completion of the planning process. The City of Plymouth elects to participate in the Metropolitan Li able Communities Act Local Housing Incentives Program, and will prepare and submit a plan to the Metropolitan Council by June 30, 1996, indicating the actions it will take to carry out the above goals. CERTIFICATION Mayor 5 Date City of Plymouth Housing Goals Agreement December 5, 1995 Affordability Ownership (80% of median) Rental (50% of median) Life -Cycle Type (Non -single family detached) Owner/ renter mix Density Single -Family Detached Multifamily cd\p1an\memos\5059\hsgagre2.doc Exhibit A Metropolitan Livable Communities Act Proposed Benchmarks and Goals City of Plymouth METRO METRO PLYMOUTH PLYMOUTHPLYMOUTH COUNCIL COUNCIL DATA 1990 TO 1995 GOALFORNEW CITY INDEX BENCHMARK, ALL DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT, FOR NORTHWEST HOUSING TREND1996-2010 PLYMOUTH SUBURBS 1995) 42% 67-77% 33% 8% 21 15% 35-41% 25.8% 35% 39% 34-35% 25% 34% 74/26% 72-75) / 25/28) % 92/8% 75/25% 1.8/ acre 1.9-2.4/acre 1.99/ acre 1.84** 2/acre 8/acre 10-11/acre 10.75 acre 6.79** 10/acre 1. 1 No new comparable data available Estimate based on sample of projects r n I aBackgroundDat CITY OF PLYMOUTH HOUSING GOALS AGREEMENT METROPOLITAN LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ACT November, 1995 HSGVAL.XLS Homestead Units by Value and Year Built 3500 Affordability of Homesteaded Units by Year Built 100% I 90% 80% 3000 O0 70% N 2500 60% 118,000+ 0 50% T 0-$117,99940% ; v 30% pd, 20% r 10% I 500 0% Pre- 1950- 1960- 1970- 1980- 1990- O 1950 1959 1969 1979 1989 1995 Year Built Homestead Units by Value and Year Built 3500 I 3000 I2500 I 2000 E 1500 1000 I 500 0$148,000+ O 118,000-147,999o Ln 69,501-117,999 0LnMc°0 rn 0-$69,500 p00 rn r` rn Ln Value4. O 0 rn C3) mmc0 rn n o Year 00 rn O m HSGVAL.XLS City of Plymouth 1995 Assessed Value, Homesteaded Property by Year Built Year Built 0469,500 Pct. 69,501- 117,999 Pct. 118,000. 147,999 Pct. 148,000+ Pct. Total Pct. Pre -1950 147 1 % 359 2% 50 0% 46 0% 602 4% 1950-1959 28 0% 689 4% 14 1 % 59 0% 917 6% 1960-1969 6 0% 813 5% 67 4% 502 3% 1999 13% 1970-1979 292 2% 1374 9% 103 7% 1488 10% 4193 27% 1980-1989 75 0% 1075 7% 1236 8% 3022 19% 5408 35% 1990-1995 12 0% 181 1% 284 2% 1906 12% 2383 15% Total 560 4% 4491 29% 342 22% 7023 45% 15502 100% Summary Percentages: All Homestead Units in City Affordable' Units Other Units All Homestead Units Year Built 0-$117,999 Pct. 118,000+ Pct. Total Pct. Pre -1950 506 3% 96 1 % 602 4% 1950-1959 717 5% 200 1 % 917 6% 1960-1969 819 5% 1180 8% 1999 13% 1970-1979 1666 11% 2527 16% 4193 27% 1980-1989 1150 7% 4258 27% 5408 35% 1990-1995 193 1% 2190 14% 2383 15% Total 5051 33% 10451 67% 15502 100% Percentages: All Homestead Units built by Decade Affordable" Units Other Units Alt Homestead Units Year Built 04117,999 Pct. 118,000+ Pct. Total Pct. Pre -1950 506 84% 96 16% 602 100% 1950-1959 717 78% 200 22% 917 100% 1960-1969 819 41% 1180 59% 1999 100% 1970-1979 1666 40% 2527 60% 4193 100% 1980-1989 1150 21% 4258 79% 5408 100% 1990-1995 193 8% 2190 92% 2383 100% Total 5051 33% 10451 67% 15502 100% 0 hsg type City of Plymouth New Housing Units by Type, 1990-1995 Total 2752 914 3666 75.1% 24.9% 100.0% 900 800 d 700 600 E 500 aL 400 300 200 100 0 New Housing Units by Type, 1990-1995 Multiple Family 25% Single Family 75% New Housing Units by Type, 1990-1995 rn rn rn rn IM M rn rn rn rn !112 rn Year 10 mwtiple ramuy n SinnlP Family Single Multiple Year Family Family Total 1990 386 220 606 1991 439 58 497 1992 631 196 827 1993 675 62 737 1994 376 269 645 1995 245 109 354 Total 2752 914 3666 75.1% 24.9% 100.0% 900 800 d 700 600 E 500 aL 400 300 200 100 0 New Housing Units by Type, 1990-1995 Multiple Family 25% Single Family 75% New Housing Units by Type, 1990-1995 rn rn rn rn IM M rn rn rn rn !112 rn Year 10 mwtiple ramuy n SinnlP Family new rental City of Plymouth New Rental Housing, 1990-1995 73 88 122 283 25.8% 31.1% 43.1% 100.0% 11 Affordable Affordable at 50% of at 60% of 60% of Project Median Median Median Total Plymouth Towne Square 73 24 97 Lakeview Commons 64 64 Fernbrook Townhomes 72 72 Lancaster Park 50 50 73 88 122 283 25.8% 31.1% 43.1% 100.0% 11 City of Plymouth Vacant/ Ag Land in MUSA Availability for Development All Vacant/ Ag Land in MUSA Land not Available for Development Residential Approved Projects/ Lots of Record Approved Commercial/ Industrial Projects Other Unbuildable Land Area Subtotal Land Available for Development All Vacant/Ag Land in MUSA Wetland Acres 21% Floodplain not incl. wetlands) 2% Upland Acres 77% sum. avail land Floodplain Total Land (not incl. Upland Area Wetland Acres wetlands) Acres 2119.88 436.13 52.12 1631.63 875.36 183.73 10.03 681.6 128.91 62.18 8.55 18.87 0 2.03 120.36 41.28 1066.45 211.15 12.06 843.24 1053.43 224.98 40.06 788.39 12 Land Available for Development Wetland Acres 21% Floodplain not incl. wetlands) 4% land by LUGP City of Plymouth Land Use Inventory, 1995 Land Available for Development in MUSA Total Floodplain Land Use Guide Plan Land not incl. Wetland Upland Classification Area wetlands) Acres Acres Commercial 498.37 10.78 60.06 427.53 48.5% Industrial 312.23 16.22 19.84 276.17 31.3% Residential 228.51 12.84 7.06 168.61 19.1% Other 10.13 0.22 0.73 9.18 1.0% Total 1049.24 40.06 1 7.69 881.49 100% Land Available for Development in the MUSA 500 450 400 350 300 O Upland Acres 250 Wetland Acres Q O Floodplain (not incl. wetlands) = 200 150'; ki 100 2i50 Commercial Industrial Residential Other Land Use Guide Plan Designation Residential Land Available in the MUSA I 6% j I I 21% y" ® Floodplain (rot incl wetlands) Wetland Acnis Ili 0Upland Acre I i I Jj I 73% I I I 13 existing density City of Plymouth Land Use Inventory, 1995 Estimated 1995 Density Multifamily DUP 14.33 Minus Equals Estimated Estimated 0.32 Land Area Wetland Upland Add ROW Net Land 1/2/1995 Net Gross Land Use Acres) Acres Acres Est. Area Units Density Density Single Family 364.35 835.96 76.06 759.90 49.39 809.29 8,700 10.75 9.83 SFD 6558.59 483.06 6075.53 MHP 5.78 0.00 5.78 6564.37 483.06 6081.31 547.32 6628.63 13,650 2.06 1.92 Multifamily DUP 14.33 1.52 12.81 TWIN 22.62 0.32 22.30 TH 178.19 1.03 177.16 CONDO 215.87 32.59 183.28 MFR 404.95 40.60 364.35 835.96 76.06 759.90 49.39 809.29 8,700 10.75 9.83 All Residential Uses 7400.33 559.12 6841.21 596.71 7437.92 22,350 3.00 2.79 Area of City in ROW: 18.2% Percent of Single Family: 9.0% Percent of Multfamily: 6.5% Net Density- land area excludes wetlands, includes ROW Gross Density-- land area includes wetlands, includes ROW 14 N a) C2. E aXm N C a) O i Q N C u N 0 I- Co O Cf) M tT r O N N N O Cn ((00 V-: N c : 0 r (0 N CO tt co co (0 T M M (D to r - LO In — N 0 (D (D O O (D d M OR M 00 co t` O O O N r T q 00 1, - CO O N t- M t CC) N N CO N O Cf) co U) N N CA T CA M 00 N r ti 'V' CO N O '4- DO - N N 'It r N O M OO N r r co O r- IT V O M h co t - N m - M r T O O O LO N 0j O t` t- t- It Iz O 0 ti CO 'V, [I- 04N C14 M O co 'IT O O CD (0 O (D O r - M r- CLO M N c0 T N U-) v rn m ui M O O coq O M [t t` U) O) O N Ln CD tiN O N 00 LO I -( D N M O (D CD ti r r M 0) N v Oa' 14- C) O CO g 0) 0 - N O N CD O (0 O ti O (D O M J O N t- CO co t- N N D 00 co LO r r CO T C Y C T N N `° 0O O T d _ E d O U > E O LL d cn c z LL m m OU cu y = m i c m G o Al i E a) r 9 Cn U- CL 0 d d d C I- Co O Cf) M tT r O N N N O Cn ((00 V-: N c : 0 r (0 N CO tt co co (0 T M M (D to r - LO In — N 0 (D (D O O (D d M OR M 00 co t` O O O N r T q 00 1, - CO O N t- M t CC) N N CO N O Cf) co U) N N CA T CA M 00 N r ti 'V' CO N O '4- DO - N N 'It r N O M OO N r r co O r- IT V O M h co t - N m - M r T O O O LO N 0j O t` t- t- It Iz O 0 ti CO 'V, [I- 04N C14 M O co 'IT O O CD (0 O (D O r - M r- CLO M N c0 T N U-) v rn m ui M O O coq O M [t t` U) O) O N Ln CD tiN O N 00 LO I -( D N M O (D CD ti r r M 0) N v Oa' 14- C) O CO g 0) 0 - N O N CD O (0 O ti O (D O M J O N t- CO co t- N N D 00 co LO r r CO T C Y T O N `° O U > E cn c LL m m OU cu y = m a) a) rn w .0 o Al i E a) r 9 r` O M t - N N co O N r N U N IT N U co n N a) C2O ci O M YM (0 r Q O vi a) 7 M LO CD U CA O -6 LO rl- N Cn CCu a) Lo3 C) c to N r 3 N 0 r CA L tm_ V O ` (A N c c OCu CMC fl C t` MQ) N (D C XXa) W a cu a) cu cu C XcuQ) O aU) i w a) c C C rn N Metropolitan Livable Communities Fund and MHFA Project Selection Criteria In implementing the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act and the Governor's Economic Vitality and Housing Initiative, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) and the Metropolitan Council have joined with the Minneapolis -St. Paul Family Housing Fund to convene the Metropolitan Housing Implementation Group (MHIG). The MHIG has developed a set of draft project selection criteria that is to be used by the three agencies in a coordinated funding process for housing proposals in the Metropolitan region. One element of the draft criteria establishes a threshold for funding homeownership / home improvement projects with funds from the Metropolitan Livable Committees Housing Incentive Account and MHFA programs that are part of it's Single Family Combined Program Application. This threshold provides that a "community must have met or exceeded its Metropolitan Council established benchmark for affordable rental housing in order to [be] eligible to receive funding for homeownership projects. " This criteria would prohibit a community that does not meet its affordable rental housing benchmark from applying for these funds to work towards meeting its affordable homeownership goals, regardless of the community's efforts towards meeting its affordable rental housing goals. Staff believes that this threshold criteria is: is a punitive criteria, rather than an incentive, that is contrary to the spirit of the Livable Communities Act and is not supported by the legislation inhihits the develonment of nrnnnCAIC thnt nttPmnt to nmvirt- a hal nr•rri rPennnen to lv,+t, the Minnesota Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies (MALHFA). In response MALHFA voted to propose legislation in this session that would allow Cities that did not meet the 50% requirement in 1995 to be eligible to re -apply in 1996. This proposal by MALHFA would be beneficial to the City and should receive its support. CAMPBELL, KNUiTSON, SCOTT & FUCHS, P.A. Attorneys at Lary Suite 317 Eagandale Office Center 1380 Corporate Center Curve Eagan, hdinnesota 55121 612) 452-5000 FAX (612) 452-5550 FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION - COVER SHEET PLEASE DELIVER TO: FAX NUMBER: DATE: SENDER: RE: COMMENTS: DWIGHT JOHNSON and BARB SENNESS 5095060 JANUARY 259 1996 ELLIOTT B. TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES: 6 (INCLUDING COVER PAGE) IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE ALL PAGES, PLEASE CALL SHERRY AT (612) 452-5000. ORIGINAL TO FOLLOW BY MAIL. NOTICE OF CONFIDENTIALITY The information contained in and transmitted with this facsimile is: 1. SUBJECT TO THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE; 2. ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT; OR 3. CONFIDENTIAL. It is intended only for the individual or entity designated above. You are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying or use of or reliance upon the information contained in or transmitted with this facsimile by or to anyone other than the recipient designated above by the sender is unauthori2ed and strictly prohibited. If you have received this facsimile in error, please notify CAMPBELL, KNUTSON, SCOTT & FUCHS BY TELEPHONE AT (612) 452- 5000 IMMEDIATELY. Any facsimile erroneously transmitted to you should be immediately returned to the sender by U.S. Mail or, if authorization is granted by sender, destroyed. 900/TO02 KOSIIINf 'I'ISSINVO 0559 Z96 ZT9ZZ 6T:9T 96/9Z/T0 CAMPBELL, KNUTSON, SCOTT & FUC: HS, PA. Attomeys at Law Tllmmns J. (1uupt"'Al Roger N. Knursnn Thomas M_ Sena Cary G. Fuchs James R. W. krmn I:Ilinrr S. Kneuch Mr. Dwight Johnson Ms. Barb Senness City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 554471482 612) 452-5000 Andre, Mcl)iiwcll Puehler Fax (612) 452-5550 M. tncww K. FhUkl ohn F. Kelly Uirpicrite M. McGu'rifln January 25, 1996 GcOrge 1. SLCE111 n;0n Re: Proposed Noise Ordinance Dear Dwight and Barb - VIA FAC MLE AND MAIL Enclosed please find the proposed Noise Ordinance. We recommend that the City's noise consultant review the technical aspects of the ordinance such as the definitions and whether the impulsive noise standard should be on an A -weighted scale or unweighted. I also intend to send a confidential letter to the City Council summarizing the major provisions of the ordinance and discussing the City's legal position in the event of litigation initiated by Ameridata. Please contact me if you have any questions. Very truly yours, CAMPBELL, KNUTSON, SCOTT FUCHS, P.A. By: Elliott B. sch EBK: slc Enclosure Suite 317 - Eagan ate. Office C.:cnter i 1380 Cori orate Center Curve • Eagan, MN .55121 900/ZOOz NOSIaNN 'TIagdKV3 0959 Z96 ZT9,Q, 6T:9T 96/9Z/TO CITY OF PLYMOUTH HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA ORDINANCE NO. 96 - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6 OF THE PLYMOUTH CITY CODE TO PROVIDE FOR NOISE CONTROL IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS THE CITY OF PLYMOUTH ORDAINS: SECTION 1. Chapter VI of the Plymouth City Code is amended by adding Section 620 to provide: Section 620 - Noise Control 620.01 Findings and Policy. Subd. 1. Findings. The City Council finds that excessive sound and vibration are a serious hazard to the public health and welfare, safety, and the quality of life for residents of the City. A substantial body of science and technology exists by which excessive sound and vibration may be substantially abated. The residents of the City have a right to be free from excessive sound and vibration that may jeopardize their health or welfare or safety or degrade the quality of life or property. Subd. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the Cityl of Plymouth to prevent excessive sound and vibration which may jeopardize the health and welfare of its residents or degrade the quality of life or property. 620.03. Definitions. The following words and terms when used in this Section shall have the following meanings. Any other word or phrase used in this Section, and defined in regulations of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agencyoise Pollution Control Rules Chapter 7030, has the meaning given in those regulations. a) "City Official" means any duly authorized representative of the City as designated by the City Manager. b) "Daytime" means the hours between 7:00I a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during weekdays and 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. during holidays and weekends. c) "Decibel (0)" means a unit for measuring the volume of a sound, equal to 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure, which is 20 micropascals (20 micronewtons per square meter). 31737 900/£000Pj NOS,LIINM 1111a0dKV3 OSSS UP ZT9ZZ OZ:ST 96/SZ/TO d) "Impulsive Sound" means a sound of short duration, usually less than one second, with an abrupt onset and rapid decay. Examples of sources of impulsive sound include explosions, drop forge impacts, and the discharge of firearms. e) "LlO Level" means the noise level, expressed in dBA, which is exceeded ten percent of the time for a one hour survey, as measured by test procedures approved by the City Official. f) "Loading Dock" means a building, part of a building or area in which freight is assembled, stored or loaded for routing or shipment by truck; or an area in which semitrailers, including tractor and/or trailer units and other trucks, are parked, left idling or stored. g) "Nighttime" means the hours between 8:00 p.m. and 7.00 a.m. during weekdays and 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. during legal holidays and weekends. h) "Noise" means any sound which annoys or disturbs humans or which causes or tends to cause an adverse psychological or physiological effect on humans. i) "Noise level" - see "sound level". j} "Person" means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, trustee, association, the state and its agencies and subdivisions, or any body of persons whether incorporated or not. With respect to acts prohibited or required herein, person shall also include employees and licensees. k) "Sound" means a temporal and spacial oscillation in pressure or other physical quantity in a medium with internal forces which causes compressions and rarefactions of that medium and which is propagable at finite speed to distant points. The description of sound may include any characteristic of sound, including duration, intensity and frequency. 1) "Sound Level (Noise Level)" means the A -weighted sound pressure level, expressed in dBA, obtained by use of a sound -level meter and frequency weighting network, such as A, B, or C as specified in American National Standards Institute specifications for sound level meters (ANSI SI.4-1983, or the latest approved revision thereof). m) "Sound Pressure" means the instantaneous difference between the actual pressure and the average or barometric pressure at a given point in space, as produced by sound energy. 31737 -2- 900/rooQ NOSIMM 11affiNvo OSSS ZS6 ZT9JQ OZ:ST 96/SZ/TO n) "Sound Pressure Level (SPL)" means a level expressed in decibels (dB), is 20 times the logarithm to the based ten of the ratio of the observed sound pressure to a reference pressure of 20 micropascals. 620.05. Noise Source Re uireme _ Subdivision 1. Loading Docks. A loading dock sound source located within 300 feet of residential property shall not exceed the following noise levels, as measured at the property line of the receiving land use: L10 Level Daytime 60 dBA Nighttime 50 dBA Subd. 2. Impulsive Noise Standards. A. No person shall operate or cause to be operated on private property located within 300 feet of property zoned residential any source of sound which emits an impulsive sound which exceeds 80 dBA on more than two (2) occasions per three (3) consecutive hours as measured at the property line of the recciving land use. B. Exemptions. The impulsive noise standards in this subdivision do not apply to: a) motor vehicles operating on public streets, construction; aircraft and airport operations; stationary nonemergency signaling devices; emergency signaling devices, motorboats; outdoor power tools; refuse collection vehicles; recreational motorized vehicles operating off public streets; b) the unamplified human voice; c) interstate railway locomotives and cars; and d) all agricultural activities. 620.10 General Testing and Measurement Procedures. The City Official shall adopt guidelines establishing the test procedures and instrumentation to be utilized, and a copy of the guidelines shall be kept on file in the Office of the City Clerk. 620.15 Noise Impact Statements. The City Official may require noise impact statements in association with, but not limited to, changes in zoning classifications; issuance of conditional or interim use permits, site plan review, the planning of a structure; or any operation, process, installation, or alteration which may be considered as a potential noise source. 31737 -3- 900/SOOZ Hos, aNx 11agdKV3 OSSS ZS6 ZT9Z TZ:ST 96/SZ/TO 620.35 Penalty. Violation of this Section is a misdemeanor. A person convicted of violating this Section shall also be responsible for paying the costs ofd prosecution. The imposition of one penalty for any violation of this Section shall not excuse the violation, or permit it to continue. Each day that a violation exists constitutes a scparate offense. The City may also seek equitable relief as necessary to cure the violation. SECTIO. This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage. ADOPTED by the City Council this day of 19 ATTEST: Laurie F. Ahrens, City Clerk 31737 4- Joycelyn Tierney, Mayor 900/900 Q Nos, amm 11agaNvo OSSS ZSV ZTOU TZ ; ST 96/SZ/TO Star Tribune, Sat., Jan.27, 1996 presented at the request of Councilmember Anderson 1 vul r Twin 'Cities'best in h By Am Buchts Star Tribune Staff Writer How the T Compared with the Minne-apple," New York City A look at the me cant compete when it comes urban areas of tl to housing affordability. Among 18 metropolitan ar- Characteristicseassurveyed, first-time home buyers in the Twin Cities met- Medan ehuNnho ropolitan area had the lowest Frst Repeat buyeraveragemonthlymortgage payment as a percentage of Dorm paymsrr after-tax income — 28.9 per- sale p cent. y Peyt If you were an averagd first- of after -{ax time buyer in New York City, Frst-time buy Repeat buyeryou'd pay 40.1 percent of your • after-tax income on your Buying for flrst house payment, according to Previous' 0va the survey by the Chicago Title 0- Median houset and Trust Family of Title In- Frst-time buy surers. Repeat buyer Twin Citians spend less of Metro are sum their paychecks on mortgage Atlanta payments than home owners Boston in other parts of country most- Chicago ly because of low housing Cleveland costs and healthy wages. Dallasfort Wor Denver Turn to SURVEY on D2 Source: Chicago rrtk r cities of our size and I a lower -than -average from Di she she said. Nin Cities area consls- shot of the U.S. housing marifet, ated in the top 10 list of the survey indicates that middle- rdable places to' bdy a income home owners are cau- he National Association tious about re-entering the mar- iuilders. - ket, in part because of job jitters30strOm, director of thecaused by widespread corporateaofficeoftheFederal Mortgage Association ae), said she's not. sur- downsizing: Nationwide, 27.2 percent of first-time and repeat home buyers had incomes be- Twin Cities fazed so tween $41,000 and $60,000, the e 20th annual survey, group's lowest share of all home- Twin Cities area enjoy buyers -since 1985, when income ian average median in- . first was questioned in the sur - 51,000 fora family of vey. In 1993; that group's share ofhissignificantlyhigherthehomebuyingmarketwas33.4 r cities of our size and I a lower -than -average percent. Other survey findings - she she said. The average home buyer inTwinCitiesarea, the the Twin Cities metro area was ;. yew and used home slightly more youthful thap those midpoint of all sales, 1 numbers of homes nationwide. Locally, the average first-time . buyer was 29.8 yiears r higher and lower old and the the. average repeat e from $99,700 in 1993 in 1994 to $108,700 in buyer was 39.7. Elsewhere in the country the average age was $2.1 ie four Midwest cities the Twin Cities for first-time buyers and 40.7 for metro ie largest rise in aver- repeat buyers. Twin Cities area home buy - rices (total dollar vol- ers are increasingly more likely to ad by the number of buy a home out of wedlock From age prices were up 6,1 1993 to 1995, the number of mar- In $116,000 in 1994 to ried buyers -decreased from 75;-. ' 1995. percent of all buyers to 64.3 per n Cities area. houses cent. nificantly less expen- sewhere in the United year the national me - price was $147,700; ; eco was the highest at id Memphis was low- 10. igenerally rosy snap - i January 29, 1996 Mr. Curt Johnson, Chair Metropolitan Council 230 East Fifth Street Mears Park Centre St. Paul, MN 55101 tit mW j - 3 D•- `t=' T DRAFT Re: Selection Criteria for the Metropolitan Livable Communities Affordable Housing Incentive Account Dear Mr. Johnson: The Metropolitan Council will be asked to adopt the Metropolitan Housing Implementation Group Project (MHIG) Selection Criteria as the selection criteria for the Metropolitan Livable Communities Affordable Housing Incentive Account. The Project Selection Criteria for Homeownership / Home Improvement Projects in Section 5 of the draft of the MHIG Project Selection Criteria includes a Threshold Criteria that requires that: "A Community must have met or exceeded its Metropolitan Council established benchmark for affordable rental housing in order to be eligible to receive funding for homeownership projects. " This criteria would prohibit a community that does not meet its affordable rental housing benchmark from applying for these funds to work towards meeting its affordable homeownership goals. We believe that this threshold criteria: DRAFT The Metropolitan Council's Community Development Committee is scheduled to consider the selection criteria at its meeting on February 5, 1996, followed by action by the full Council on February 8th. For the reasons stated above, we urge the members of the Metropolitan Council to fully review and discuss this proposed threshold criteria and consider deleting it from the Metropolitan Housing Implementation Group Project Selection Criteria. Sincerely, Dwight D. Johnson City Manager cc: Metropolitan Council Members Jim Solem Plymouth City Council Members Craig Rapp Plymouth State Legislative Delegation Tom McElveen hra\corms\5047\metcahia