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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-11-10 HRA Packet AGENDA MAPLEWOOD HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WEDNESDAY, November 10, 2010 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL, CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Approval of Minutes a. September 8,2010 5. Unfinished Business 6. New Business a. Quarterly Code Enforcement Report b. LCA-Housing Action Plan 7. Visitor Presentations 8. Commission Presentations 9. Staff Presentations 10. Adjournment MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8,2010 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Pearson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Commissioner Je Moua Chairperson Gary Pearson Commissioner Colleen Thompson Commissioner Joy Tkachuck Vice-Chairperson Beth Ulrich Present Present Absent Absent Present Staff Present: Tom Ekstrand, Senior Planner III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice-Chairperson Ulrich moved to approve the September 8, 2010, agenda as presented. Commissioner Thompson seconded. Ayes all; the motion passed. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Vice-Chairperson Ulrich moved to approve the minutes of the August 11, 2010, meeting as presented. Commissioner Thompson seconded the motion. Ayes all; the motion passed. September 8, 2010 Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting Minutes 1 V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None VI. NEW BUSINESS a. Public Hearing Staff explained the request by Hill Murray High School that the HRA amend the $3.3 million Education Facilities Review Note, which was approved under the HRA's bonding authority for the purchase of property and improvements at the school. Jacquie LaMonica, CFO of Hill-Murray High School, and Mary Ippel, of Briggs and Morgan, addressed the Commission with details of the request. Vice-Chairperson Ulrich moved to adopt the resolution approving the amendment to the $3.3 million revenue note previously issued to Hill-Murray High School to change the first adjustment date from December 10, 2010, to August 10, 2010. This change will reduce the interest rate from 5% to 4.5%. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Pearson. Ayes all, motion passed. VII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None VIII. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS None IX. STAFF PRESENTATIONS None X. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 7:08 p.m. September 8, 2010 Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting Minutes 2 2010 CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT Complaints Received 2010 January 1st through October 4th Tvpe of Compliant Number of Violations Enforced Cases in ProQress . Exterior Storage . Unapproved Parking . Lawn Maintenance . House / Property Maintenance . Junk Vehicles . Trash / Garbage . Trash Container Storage . Commercial Vehicle / Equipment . Home Occupation . Misc. Other Concerns 82 91 231 45 81 27 18 7 15 36 633 14 10 9 10 9 2 2 2 3 ~ 66 Total Number of Complaints Received Enforcement Matters Resolved . Number of Violations Resolved . Enforcement Actions in Progress 567 66 *Total Number of Violation Sites 487 Citations/Abatements Number of Citations Issued Number of Abatements 52 57 Comments The total numbers of complaints we received are consistent with past years. As summer approaches, the long grass/lawn maintenance complaints will increase. The city council approved a $250.00 abatement fee which staff charges to help recoup some of the cost of increased complaints due to home vacancies. * Often times, there are several issues or problems at a given violation site or address. The 487 count relates to the number of addresses visited by staff while enforcing violations, although, there were 633 violations enforced. P:HRA\code enforcement report 3rd quarter 2010 dgf MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: James Antonen, City Manager Michael Martin, AICP, Planner Charles Ahl, Assistant City Manager LCA - Housing Action Plan November 1, 2010 SUBJECT: DATE: INTRODUCTION In 1995, the Minnesota Legislature created the Livable Communities Act (LCA) to address the affordable and life-cycle housing needs in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Additionally, the legislature created a funding mechanism to assist communities participating in the LCA in adding affordable and life-cycle housing. Participation in the incentive-based LCA program is voluntary with the Metropolitan Council governing it. When the LCA was established, Maplewood was one of the first communities to sign up to participate in the program. On August 23, 2010, the city council adopted a resolution continuing Maplewood's participation in the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act Local Housing Incentives Account. As a participant in this program, the city is required to submit a housing action plan to the Metropolitan Council. DISCUSSION On January 25, 2010, the city council adopted a housing action plan as part of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. The housing chapter of the comprehensive plan will also satisfy the Metropolitan Council's requirement for a housing action plan under the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act Local Housing Incentives Account program. Because of Maplewood's past participation in the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act Local Housing Incentives Account program, the housing chapter of the last two comprehensive plans has been formatted to meet all of the Metropolitan Council's requirements. In order to meet this requirement, the city council needs to approve the housing chapter from the 2030 Comprehensive Plan as a standalone housing action plan. Staff has attached the housing chapter from the 2030 Comprehensive Plan to this report. The chapter has been reformatted to reflect a standalone document but none of the content of the chapter has been changed. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval of the attached housing action plan in order to satisfy the requirement of the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act Local Housing Incentives Account program. p:HRA\Housing Action Plan_HRA_111010 Attachment: 1. Housing Action Plan Attachment 1 City of Maplewood Housing Action Plan Introduction As a mature community, Maplewood has many challenges and opportunities to maintain and provide housing choice and life-cycle housing for its residents. Maplewood considers its housing stock to be a critical building block of its neighborhoods and community development efforts. The livability and appearance of neighborhoods and the housing within them, is a quality of life indicator for the City. As a sustainable community, Maplewood will provide housing opportunities for its workforce, young professionals, families, special needs and senior residents as well as its business and corporate owners. Diverse housing supports economic development by keeping existing residents, attracting new people from all social and economic classes and is essential for sustaining an ever changing and developing population. Businesses need employees and employees need housing. The City has been a leader at providing for workforce and affordable housing and will continue to provide opportunities for additional housing for all segments of the population. Housing is the most significant form of development in Maplewood. More than 90 percent of Maplewood's 2030 land use plan is devoted to residential land uses. The housing supply determines who lives in Maplewood. The character of neighborhoods plays an important role in shaping the character and identity of the City. The purpose of the Housing Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan is to identify housing needs and to provide a foundation for local decision-making to guide residential development and redevelopment efforts in Maplewood. State Law requires that the Comprehensive Plan contain a housing element that includes "standards, plans and programs for providing adequate housing opportunities to meet existing and projected local and regional housing needs, including but not limited to the use of official controls and land use planning to promote the availability of land for the development of low and moderate income housing" (Minnesota Statutes, Section 473859, Subd. 2c). The Comprehensive Plan must also include a housing implementation program that describes "official controls to implement the housing element of the land use plan, which will provide sufficient existing and new housing to meet the local unit's share of the metropolitan area need for low and moderate income housing" (Minnesota Statutes, Section 473859, Subd. 4). The Housing Chapter focuses on Maplewood's housing goals and objectives, not on the background information that shapes these plans. Information on housing in Maplewood can be found in several places. The Community Profile chapter (Chapter 2) includes a summary of key community characteristics and recent growth trends. Purpose The intent of the Housing Chapter is . Describe the current housing stock. . Quantify the number of housing units by type . Describe the services and amenities that affect the quality and desirability of neighborhoods. . Set goals for affordable housing and a mix of housing types to meet the life-cycle housing needs of Maplewood residents. . Identify strategies for achieving those goals. Housing Action Plan Attachment 1 Goals and Objectives The City of Maplewood has developed housing goals and objectives. The goals and objectives are the foundation of this plan. The City's housing plan is based on these goals and objectives. Further discussion in the chapter will address how certain future decisions will achieve these goals and objectives. The goals and objectives are listed below Goal 1 : Encourage that the quality of housing in residential neighborhoods be maintained to meet the needs of current and future residents. Objectives: 1. Have a variety of housing types for ownership and rental for people in all stages of the life-cycle. 2. Have a balanced housing supply, with housing availability for people at all income levels. 3. Accommodate all racial and ethnic groups in the purchase, sale, rental and location of housing in the City. 4. Promote housing development that respects the natural environment of the City while striving to meet the need for a variety of housing types and costs. 5. Promote sustainable housing that is energy efficient, utilizes green building techniques, and targeted funding programs for housing rehabilitation. 6. Have single-family detached houses with an average density of at least 3 units per net acre and multifamily housing with an average density of at least 10 units per net acre. 7. Promote the availability of a full-range of services and facilities for its residents, and the improvement of access to and linkage between housing and employment. 8. Promote and protect small businesses as areas of the City experience new residential development. Goal 2: Promote efforts to upgrade, enhance and maintain existing housing stock. Objectives: 1. Promote organization of neighborhood groups to organize residents, identify and address issues and advocate for neighborhood preservation, enhancement and assistance. 2. Partner with agencies and community groups to institute quality of life improvements at distressed housing sites and encourage reinvestment in older properties to maintain their appearance, functionality and value. 3. Update ordinances to maintain housing functionality, livability and to address new technologies, market trends and resident needs. Housing Action Plan 2 Attachment 1 Goal 3: Accomplish the adopted Livable Communities Goals for affordable housing. Objectives: 1. Maintain strong partnerships with the Metropolitan Council and other agencies/programs to provide affordable housing, support programs and services, and for assistance with the available financing programs. 2. Encourage future affordable housing units (funded by other agencies) as part of mixed-use projects and/or as a component of new owner-occupied or renter-occupied multiple-family. Goal 4: Maintain city-wide housing goal of 75 percent owner-occupied units and 25 percent rental units. Objectives: 1. Work with lenders and social service agencies to provide financial literacy and special programs to encourage and increase homeownership. 2. Concentrate housing redevelopment efforts toward providing life-cycle housing in Maplewood Existing Housing Stock The overall condition of the City's housing units is good, although there are small, isolated areas that have homes with the potential to deteriorate. However, as the housing stock in Maplewood continues to age, steps need to be taken to ensure high quality housing. To ensure this, the City adopted a housing maintenance code that enables officials to require owners to maintain and make basic repairs to their structures. The City also has a "Truth-in- Housing" ordinance that is intended to help potential buyers make a more-informed buying decision. Construction during the 2000s A total of 913 housing units were built between 1998 and 2007 in Maplewood. As of April 2006, there were 14,643 housing units in Maplewood. Table 4.1 shows that single-family detached units represent about 61 percent of the City's housing units. Table 4.1 Housing Units by Type, 2000 Number of Units Percent SinQle-Family 8,589 61.3% Multi-Family 4,633 331% Manufactured Housina 783 5.6% Total 14,005 100.0% Source: US Census Multi-family housing consists of 33.1 percent of the City's housing stock and manufactured housing consists of 5.6 percent. Housing Action Plan 3 Attachment 1 Housing Types and Trends Table 4.2 data reveals that nearly 58 percent of the City's housing stock has been built since 1970. Table 4.2 A fH St k2000 \ae 0 ousma oc , Number of Units Percent Built 1999 to March 2000 381 2.7% Built 1995 to 1998 1,000 7.1% Built 1990 to 1994 1,410 10.1% Built 1980 to 1989 2,565 18.3% Built 1970 to 1979 2,741 19.6% Built 1960 to 1969 1,642 11.7% Built 1950 to 1959 2,690 19.2% Built 1940 to 1949 707 5.0% Built 1939 or earlier 869 6.2% Total: 14,005 100.0% Source: US Census Maplewood has traditionally had a higher than average percentage of owner-occupied housing units. The ratio of owner-occupied to rental housing rose slightly over the last decade. According to Table 43, more than three-fourths of the housing stock is owner occupied and one-quarter are rental units. Table 4.3 o d R to" d U "t wner an en er ccuple ms 1990 2000 Percent Percent Owner occupied 69% 76% Renter occupied 31% 24% Source: US Census There is a diversity of styles and price ranges in the homes in Maplewood. Older homes on smaller lots provide opportunities for first-time buyers in the Western Hills, Parkside and Gladstone neighborhoods. Opportunities for low- and moderate- income households are available in manufactured home parks and in a variety of types and locations of multiple dwellings. The move-up housing market is strong with these choices available throughout the City. Buyers can find more expensive housing in the Hillside, Vista Hills, Highwood and Kohlman Lake neighborhoods. Housing Action Plan 4 Attachment 1 According to Table 43, the median value of a home is roughly $14,000 lower than the rest of the Twin Cities. Table 4.3 Median Home Value, 2000 Median value Maplewood $ 125,900 Twin Cities $ 139,200 Source: US Census Table 4.4 shows that median rent is slightly higher in Maplewood than the rest of the Twin Cities. Table 4.4 Median Ren~ 2000 Median Rent Maplewood $ 688 Twin Cities $ 641 Source: US Census Housing Assistance Maplewood participates in several programs that assist households in the City. The Metropolitan Housing and Redevelopment Authority manage the Rehabilitation Loan Program, the Section 8 and Section 236 Rental Assistance Programs. In addition to the individual system of vouchers, there are four complexes providing subsidized housing for families and the elderly Maple Ponds, 1816 and 1854 Beebe Road; Maplewood Gardens, 410 South McKnight Road; Maple Knolls, 1880 Mesabi Road; and Concordia Arms, 2030 Lydia Avenue. Maplewood participates in several loan programs funded by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency and managed by local lenders. These include the Great Minnesota Fix-Up Fund, the Home Energy Loan Program, the MHFA Single-Family Mortgage Loan Program, the Home Ownership Assistance Fund, the Purchase Plus Program and the Urban Indian Housing Program. Development Ordinances The Maplewood Zoning Ordinance includes seven districts which permit single-family detached housing. The minimum lot areas range from 7,500 square feet to 2 acres. The R-2 district also allows two-family dwellings, and the R-3 district permits multi-family developments ranging upwards from four units per net acre. It should be noted that when this Comprehensive Plan is adopted work will begin on updating the City's residential Zoning Ordinances. The City has also adopted many ordinances that affect development and housing. These include a Shoreland Overlay District to protect shoreland areas, an Environmental Protection Ordinance to protect areas of significant natural features (including wetlands and large trees), a Pipeline Setback Ordinance to protect buildings from pipeline leaks, and a Housing Maintenance Code. The City also has a "truth-in-housing" ordinance. Maplewood intends this ordinance to help purchasers make an informed buying decision. The ordinance also may promote privately negotiated housing repairs at the time of sale. The City requires sellers to have a housing disclosure report that discloses information about the condition of the property, and highlight any potential repair needs or housing code deficiencies. Housing Action Plan 5 Attachment 1 Housing Needs and Trends The demographic information contained in this chapter and Chapter 2 of the Comprehensive Plan suggests that major changes in the composition of the populations will affect the City of Maplewood over the next 20 years. The large group of baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1965, sharply boosted housing production during the 1970s and 1980s as they formed new households. A generation has followed the baby boomers that is smaller in numbers. As these two groups move through their life-cycles, they will change the housing market. Some changes include . There may be less demand for rental housing as the typical renter age group moves into owner- occupied structures. However, the elderly may be looking to move from owner-occupied units to rental units - offsetting the decline. . Household composition has shifted. The US Census Bureau estimates that, between 1985 and 2000, 69 percent of the growth in new households will be in nontraditional households. Almost 14 percent will be in female, single-parent families whose median income is less than half the regional median. Of these, more than 30 percent will be living in poverty This may not only affect the housing market, but may also place a greater strain on the public to provide more affordable housing options. . There may be less subsidized housing. The changing household structure is occurring when the future of much of the region's subsidized housing is unclear. During the 1990s, more than 5,000 contracts for subsidized housing units between the federal government and investment housing owners expired. The federal government did not replace many of these contracts. . Rehabilitation needs may increase. As the housing stock continues to age, residential properties will need more repairs and maintenance. . The need for elderly housing is increasing and may increase sharply as the baby boomers age. Livable Communities Act On November 13, 1995 the Maplewood City Council adopted a resolution to participate in the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act. This act requires the participating communities to adopt housing agreements and to set an action plan for housing activities. A major focus of the Livable Communities Act is to promote the development and preservation of affordable and life- cycle housing throughout the metropolitan area. The Metropolitan Council has set the goal of an additional 388 affordable units in Maplewood by 2020. Housing Affordability Housing costs continue to rise throughout the region for a variety of reasons. These include increasing land and construction costs, utilities and taxes, declines in government aid programs and, indirectly, land use regulations. These cost increases greatly affect low- and moderate-incomes households. Changes in mortgage interest rates also affect the affordability of housing. Housing Action Plan 6 Attachment 1 Financing The City, through its Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA), will explore all avenues for financing affordable housing, including . Use of tax-exempt and tax-increment financing . Programs; including grants, loans and federal tax credits, for housing assistance, development and rehabilitation. The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency has the following programs o Minnesota Mortgage Program o Homeownership Assistance Fund o Purchase Plus Program o Partnership for Affordable Housing o Entry Cost Homeownership Program (ECHO) o Low I ncome Housing Tax Credit Program o New Construction Tax Credit Mortgage/Builders Loans o Low and Moderate I ncome Rental Program o Deferred Loan Program o Revolving Loan Program o Great Minnesota Fix-Up Fund o Mortgage Revenue Bonds o Mortgage Credit Certificates . Programs available through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. These programs include; o Section 8 Rental Vouchers and Certificates o Home Investment Partnership Program o Section 202 - Elderly o Section 811 - Handicapped . Programs and funds available through the Metropolitan Housing and Redevelopment Authority and through the Metropolitan Council's Livable Communities Act. . Community Development Block Grants and other programs through Ramsey County. Maplewood already participates in several of the above-listed programs, with other government agencies and with developers. Rental Assistance The City, through the HRA, will continue to participate in rental assistance programs, including those available through the Metropolitan HRA and the federal government Housing Action Plan 7 Attachment 1 Energy Efficiency The City will promote energy efficient improvements in all types of housing units to help keep them affordable. Maplewood will provide information and, when available, financial help for both owner-occupied and rental units. Housing Diversity Most of Maplewood's housing is single-family homes. The Metropolitan Council has a goal calling for each community to provide housing types other than single-family homes. The City will continue to work toward this goal through its land use plan and zoning ordinances. The City will make efforts to provide for the housing and service needs of the elderly and disabled. The City will also encourage development of housing and services which meet the needs of nontraditional households. Neighborhood Quality It is important to assure that the efforts to provide life-cycle housing are accomplished so that it is compatible with the character of existing neighborhoods and with respect to the environment. It is also important to prevent housing in older neighborhoods from deteriorating. Much of this housing was built before Maplewood became a village, when building codes were not in place. There are deteriorating housing units scattered throughout the City. In the future, these units may become less attractive to home buyers, thereby depreciating housing values. To address these concerns, the City adopts the following policies 1. Plan and design new housing to a. Protect existing housing, natural features, and neighborhood identity and quality. b. Assure there are adequate utilities, community facilities and convenient shopping. 2. Maintain or strengthen the character or neighborhoods and assure that all housing units are safe, sanitary, secure, and free from blight. The City also adopts the following neighborhood quality policies 1. The City will work to protect the integrity and long-term viability of residential neighborhoods and reduce potential negative effects of commercial or industrial land uses through zoning, site plan review and code enforcement. 2. Maplewood will require and enforce high design and maintenance standards for multi-family residential development. Design standards will include provisions about building massing, architectural design, off- street parking ratios and location, access, traffic impacts, landscaping, fencing or screening, trash handling, tot lots and parks. 3. The City will allow affordable housing in any location suitable for residential uses. 4. The City will assure that new development respects the natural environment to the maximum practical extent. Housing Action Plan 8 Attachment 1 5. Maplewood will continue to use its Shoreland, Floodplain and Environmental Protection Ordinances to assure protection of lakes, streams, ponds, wetlands, steep slopes and woodlots. 6. The City will continue to encourage the maintenance of its housing through its housing maintenance codes. The City's truth-in-housing program also should encourage housing maintenance. 7. The City, through its HRA, will participate in programs to help property owners with home maintenance and improvements through loans and, if available, grants 8. Building within the character of the neighborhood when new construction/redevelopment occurs. Housing Action Plan Table 4.5 on the next two pages lists activities that the City should undertake to carry out the Housing Plan. Housing Action Plan 9 Attachment 1 Action Responsibility Timing Funding Coordinate with Explore all options for financing HRA, Plan Ongoing CDBG, TIF, EBF, Land Use Plan, affordable housing MHFA, LCA, other Metro HRA local, state and federal programs Continue to provide rent assistance HRA, Plan, CC Ongoing Section 8 Program, Metro HRA to needy households other state and federal programs Provide information and assistance HRA, Plan Ongoing State and federal Metro HRA to encourage energy efficiency programs improvements Provide dispersed locations for PC,CC Ongoing None Land Use Plan, variety of housing types, styles, Zoning prices Review and update Codes that PC, CC ,HRA, Ongoing None Land Use Plan affect housing Plan Provide for the housing and service HRA, PC, CC Ongoing State and federal Metro HRA, needs of the elderly and disabled programs Land Use Plan Provide housing and services to HRA, CC Ongoing State and federal Metro HRA meet the needs of non-traditional programs households Protect integrity of, and prevent PC, Plan, HRA Ongoing None Land Use Plan deterioration in, existing neighborhoods Encourage high design and PC, CC, Plan, Ongoing None Land Use Plan maintenance standards for multi- CDRB family housing Assure that new development is PC, CC, Plan Ongoing None Land Use Plan, RW, compatible with, and sensitive to, SC, DNR, CE the environment Table 4.5 Housing Action Plan Continued on page 4-11 Housing Action Plan 10 Attachment 1 Continue to review and enforce HRA, Plan Ongoing GF housing maintenance code Participate in rehabilitation and HRA, Plan Ongoing CDBG, State of Metro HRA, Ramsey grant programs Minnesota County Develop programs to help first-time HRA, CC Ongoing GF MHFA, Metro HRA home buyers Abbreviations HRA = Maplewood Housing and Redevelopment Authority PC = Planning Commission CC = City Council Plan = Planning Staff CDBG = Community Development Block Grant Funds (federal) TIF = Tax increment financing EBF = Essential bond financing GF = General fund LCA = Livable Communities Act MHFA = Minnesota Housing Finance Agency METRO HRA = Metropolitan Housing and Redevelopment Authority RW = Ramsey Washington Watershed District SC = Soil Conservation District DNR = Minnesota Department of Natural Resources CE = Army Corps of Engineers CDRB = Community Design Review Board Housing Action Plan 11