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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – OCTOBER 27, 2025 9 <br /> <br />Community Development Director Reilly provided the projected supply of new homes from <br />Metropolitan Council showing what is required to house the people who already live here. The <br />region is short 120,000 units to meet the goal of 2030. We are currently looking at 2040. <br /> <br />Councilmember Monson said this data shows we need more units, but per the presentation, no <br />one is building the type of inventory that we need. Is the City even able to close that gap? We can <br />make policies, but is that enough to incentivize the missing middle development? <br /> <br />Community Development Director Reilly said there will be another conversation for this and he <br />will bring answers to that question to the next discussion. The information will be based on the <br />Federal Reserve Bank’s evaluation of the Minneapolis 2040 plan and how eliminating single <br />family housing, as a choice for each individual lot for a builder to build on has increased supply. <br />If the supply increases, everyone else’s cost goes down. The fundamental answer to the question <br />is yes. There are a lot of things the City can do that don’t cost us any money and will generate <br />more supply. <br /> <br />Councilmember Monson understands the desire for more units but not everyone wants to live in <br />a large apartment complex. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Reilly said if the goal is more supply then we know we can <br />open up options. It may mean some leg work by City Staff to solicit what we need from the <br />people who can provide that product. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Reilly shared a graphic showing the housing inventory <br />based on the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year numbers. These are the numbers that are <br />in the System Statement that was issued to the City of Arden Hills from the Mertropolian Council. <br />He said there is a housing study that is associated with Rice Creek Commons. That identifies most <br />of the homes as being greater than 1,500 square feet, meaning they are move-up homes or second <br />homes. <br /> <br />Councilmember Monson asked for confirmation that Rice Creek Commons will be mostly <br />move-up homes. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Reilly said no. There is a study associated with TCAAP <br />from 2015. That identifies what is in the surrounding area of Arden Hills. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Reilly shared graphics that show the affordable homes <br />available as of 2018 in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. He shared a graphic that identifies what is a <br />starter home, what’s an apartment and what’s aging in place vs. aging in community. There isn’t a <br />lot of places to downsize and there is a limited supply of single-level, single-family homes. The <br />smaller homes would be of interest to young families. The school district relies on those families <br />to be successful. He said these are all of the things that are free, other than Staff and consultant <br />time, to help increase the supply of homes. It doesn’t matter how affordable the homes are. Just <br />having more places to live makes everyone pay less overall. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Reilly shared some of the things we can do that have some <br />potential cost to taxpayers. Staff could go out and talk to people about how to make our existing <br />and new housing stock more affordable. Surrounding communities are using some of these. Land <br />trusts help ensure that people can stay in homes longer or that houses stay affordable longer by