The City of Shakopee was a member for many years of the Livable Communities Program.  It dropped from the program in 2010 as part of the 2030 Comprehensive Planning Process. The city has discussed rejoining the program twice since that time.

We are in the process of completing Envision Shakopee, the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.  The city would have to include goals and objectives of its share of affordable housing for the region.  That number is currently 586.  The life-cycle goal of 1,368 to 2,105 units of housing guided for medium, high, mixed use, redevelopment and TOD or similarly named residential has been largely met with a number of projects in the pipeline including HyVee, Sand Companies, Doran and redevelopment sites and other projects completed including the Henderson (51)  and soon to start construction MWF (57 in first phase, 48 in second phase) and the preservation of a senior project on 4th Street.

The Livable Communities Program is a voluntary program, based in incentives that provides funding for communities to in local economic revitalization, affordable housing initiatives and development or redevelopment that connects different land uses and transportation.

The city of Shakopee would be eligible to participate in the following programs:

• Tax Base Revitalization - better known as the brownfields program
• Livable Communities Demonstration Account that supports development and redevelopment that links housing, jobs and services while demonstrating efficient and cost-effective use of land and infrastructure
• Local Housing Incentives Account that funds production and preservation of affordable housing choices for households with low to moderate incomes
• TOD development funding around light rail or high frequency bus stations

The city will enter into negotiations for the 2040 Comp Plan for long term affordable housing goals with a housing action plan that will be do in 2019.  That plan can include lowering fees (already accomplished for multifamily housing for Park Dedication) and the landscape revisions should have a positive impact on all housing.

The Livable Communities Program is based on cooperation and incentives to achieve regional and local goals. Currently 95 communities participate in the program.

By joining at this time, this allows the 2040 Comp Plan to reflect the Met Council goals and makes the city eligible for funding.  Another Resolution will be required later to join for the next ten years, 2020-2029 period.  That will reflect the work incorporated into the 2040 Comp Plan.