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Chair Wicklund explained the developer was hearing comments about energy and how this <br />could be handled. He stated there was a desire to make this development very, very unique, <br />especially in Minnesota. He asked if there were practical strategies and energy solutions that <br />should be understood or should be implemented at this stage in the game. <br /> <br />Director Collins stated in terms of timing, the market may not be ready today, but the project <br />required the installation of a spine road and mass grading. She commented on how it would be <br />a few years before vertical construction would begin. During this time, federal dollars could <br />flow into this project. She wondered how markets would continue to change in the next three <br />to five years. <br /> <br />Mr. Stutz commented it may be a hard sell to convince buyers to spend an additional $30,000+ <br />more on a zero net home that was all electric. However, he anticipated there would be a <br />demographic that would be willing. He explained if this development were branded as an <br />energy leader, this may draw people to the community. <br /> <br />Mr. Duval stated finding a balance would be key. He encouraged the JDA to find promising <br />partners, such as Xcel, in order to pursue this initiative. <br /> <br />Commissioner Monson thanked Mr. Stutz for his comments. She indicated she does a lot of <br />high level policy work with top energy people from the State of Minnesota. She reported she <br />understood the ability to execute an all electric community was difficult given current human <br />behaviors. She asked if the developer would have any areas where there would be a mix of <br />retail with residential. <br /> <br />Mr. Shaver stated a retail node sits on the southeast portion of the site. <br /> <br />Chair Wicklund asked if the developers were seeing an increase in offices in homes. <br /> <br />Mr. Shaver stated working in place or working from home was on the rise. He discussed how <br />the collaborative spaces within multi-family developments were being utilized by tenants. <br /> <br />Mr. Stutz discussed how traffic patterns were changing and more residential home now had <br />separate offices. <br /> <br />Commissioner Fabel questioned if the construction and architectural standards needed to be <br />modified for this project. <br /> <br />Mr. Lux stated he did not see any need on the multi-family side. <br /> <br />Mr. Stutz stated he believed the current standards were fine. <br /> <br />Commissioner Fabel noted he recently worked on a Habitat for Humanity project in <br />Minneapolis. He asked if this type of project could be incorporated in this development.