Minnesota Session Laws - 1994, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 577-S.F.No. 1740 
                  An act relating to local government; requiring the 
                  metropolitan council to study housing redevelopment 
                  and rehabilitation costs and benefits; requiring local 
                  governments in the seven-county metropolitan area to 
                  cooperate with the metropolitan council for purposes 
                  of the study. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  [HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT AND REHABILITATION 
        STUDY.] 
           (a) The metropolitan council shall study and report to the 
        legislature on what standards local units of government should 
        use when evaluating the costs and benefits of housing 
        redevelopment and rehabilitation in the metropolitan area.  
        Costs and benefits must be evaluated with respect to their 
        impact on the price of housing and their impact on the supply of 
        safe, sanitary, and affordable housing for low-income persons.  
           (b) The study should consider, at a minimum, the following: 
           (1) the roles of state, federal, and local agencies, as 
        well as the role of nonprofit and for-profit developers in 
        housing redevelopment and rehabilitation; 
           (2) the relative costs and benefits of redevelopment and 
        rehabilitation of rental property and owner-occupied property; 
           (3) the costs and benefits associated with achieving 
        multiple public goals including neighborhood stabilization, 
        neighborhood revitalization, area beautification, infrastructure 
        improvement, correcting blight, recycling housing and land, 
        historic preservation, provision of neighborhood amenities such 
        as open space and playgrounds, provision of social services to 
        properties and residents, and crime prevention; 
           (4) the role of building codes and zoning in housing 
        redevelopment and rehabilitation costs and benefits; 
           (5) the impact on the price of housing of administrative 
        costs, fees, financing costs, acquisition costs, and other 
        nonconstruction redevelopment and rehabilitation costs and 
        benefits; and 
           (6) the impact of current funding mechanisms for housing 
        redevelopment and rehabilitation including tax credits, tax 
        exempt bonding, community development block grants, state loans 
        and grants, and tax increment financing.  
           (c) In studying the costs and benefits associated with 
        rehabilitation and redevelopment, the metropolitan council may 
        use a case study approach utilizing at least three 
        representative housing redevelopment and rehabilitation 
        projects.  By July 1, 1995, the metropolitan council shall 
        provide a report to the legislature on the results of the study, 
        including legislative recommendations. 
           Sec. 2.  [STATE AND LOCAL SUPPORT.] 
           The Minnesota housing finance agency, the Minnesota office 
        of strategic and long range planning, and all housing and 
        redevelopment authorities in the metropolitan area, as defined 
        in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, shall 
        provide the data and information that the metropolitan council 
        determines is necessary to conduct the study required in section 
        1.  When requested by the metropolitan council, those local 
        units of government that have adopted zoning ordinances or a 
        building code must provide the council data and information on 
        the impact of those zoning ordinances or building codes on 
        housing redevelopment and rehabilitation projects within the 
        jurisdiction of the local unit of government. 
           Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.] 
           This act is effective the day following final enactment and 
        applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, 
        Ramsey, Scott, and Washington. 
           Presented to the governor May 2, 1994 
           Signed by the governor May 5, 1994, 3:35 p.m.