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Housing & Economic Development <br />landscaping along major roadways,providing a mix of housing types,and enhanced design and <br />landscaping features. Cities may also provide a developer with credit for investments in public <br />infrastructure greater than would be minimally required, including water, sanitary sewer, <br />stormwater, or road infrastructure. <br />MetroCitiesstrongly opposesanyefforttoreduce,alterorinterferewithcitiesÓ authority <br />tocarryoutthesefunctionsinalocallydeterminedmanner. <br />Metro Cities supports exceptions to the land use timelines in M.S. 15.99 in the event of <br />extenuating local and state circumstances. Metro Cities supports local authority <br />determination when exercising the use of exceptions, recognizing projects may be in <br />different stages of approval. If a state of emergency limits the ability of city staff to <br />completealanduse review,itshouldnotresultindefactoapproval ofanapplication. <br />3-BCityRolein AffordableandLifeCycleHousing <br />MetroCitiessupportshousingthat isaffordableandappropriateforpeopleat all stagesof <br />life. A variety of housing opportunities are important to the economic and social well-being of <br />local communities and the metropolitan region. The region faces challenges in meeting the <br />existing andfuturehousingneedsoflow andmoderate-income residents.Existinghousing stock <br />isaging,with roughly half older than 40 years old, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Older <br />housingstock can be more affordable; however, it requires investments to remain viable. <br />Privateinvestors have purchased subsidized and unsubsidized rental units, made improvements, <br />andchargedhigherrentsthathavemadeaccesstopreviously affordable unitsprohibitivefor <br />lowandmoderate-income residents. The Metropolitan Council has projected the region will add <br />nearly35,000householdsbetween2021and2030thatwillneedaffordable housingandrequire <br />asubsidy of $5 billion to meet the needs of households earning up to 50 percent area median <br />income. <br />Cities should work with the private and nonprofit sectors, counties, state agencies and the <br />Metropolitan Council to ensure the best use of new and existing tools and resources to produce <br />new housing and preserve existing affordable housing. Cities can facilitate the production and <br />preservationofaffordableandlifecyclehousingby: <br />Applying forfundingfrom availablegrantand loan programs; <br />Using city and county funds to support affordable housing. This can include creating a <br />localorregionalhousingtrustfundtosupportaffordablehousing; <br />Providing information,encouragingparticipationand incentivizing participationinthe <br />Section8HousingChoice Voucherprogramtolandlords; <br />Working with developersandresidentsto blendaffordable housing intonewand existing <br />neighborhoods,includinglocations withaccess toamenities andservices; <br />Working withthestateand MetropolitanCounciltorecognizetherelationship between <br />2022 Legislative Policies <br />23 <br /> <br />