Authorize Application for Metropolitan Council Transit Oriented Development Grant

The Metropolitan Council has created a new grant category as part of the Livable Communities Act (LCA) program known as the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Grant.  Funding was made available in part from unspent LCA awards to projects that never commenced.  With the approval of the Ramsey Station on the Northstar Commuter Rail, areas within 1/4 mile of the Ramsey Station are eligible for the grant.

The City is part of the LCA program of the Metropolitan Council.  The City must respond to a housing questionnaire annually.  The City's 2011 Housing Performance Score is 78/100, which ranks very well amongst participating communities.  Attached to the case are the 2010 Housing Performance Scores (please note that these scores are from the previous cycle-the 2011 list has not yet been updated).

No notification required.

Staff has identified three (3) projects for consideration.  The City is able to submit multiple applications.  These projects include:

1. Sunwood Drive Realignment
2. Center Street Construction
3. Village Square Commons and/or North Commons Construction

There are four (4) categories of LCA TOD grants:

1. Tax Base Revitalization Account (TBRA) Contamination Cleanup Site Investigation TOD grants
2. TBRA Contamination Cleanup TOD grants
3. Livable Communities Demonstration Account (LCDA) Pre-Development TOD grants
4. LCDA Development TOD grants

TBRA Contamination Cleanup Site Investigation TOD grants
These grants are intended for applicants that have or will purchase a redevelopment site with suspected or perceived contamination and are seeking public funding to assist with the cost of determining the scope and severity of the contamination and to develop a cleanup plan.  The investigation grants are intended to encourage an early start to the environmental remediation process.

TBRA Contamination Cleanup TOD grants
These grants are intended for applicants that have recently completed their cleanup site investigation and are seeking public funding to assist with the cost of implementing a cleanup plan and beginning redevelopment.

LCDA Pre-Development TOD grants
These grants are intended for applicants who are defining their TOD project through such activities as design workshops, preparing redevelopment, corridor or station area plans, developing zoning and land use implementation tools such as overlay zones or zoning districts, or determining strategies for land banking and land acquisition.

LCDA Development TOD grants
These grants are inteded for applicants that are ready to begin development or redevelopment and the infrastructure necessary to support it.  This grant category includes site acquisition and site preparation.

Staff recommends applying for the LCDA Development TOD grant to support the capital activities mentioned above.  There may also be opportunities for pre-development grants as part of these projects to assist with planning and design.

Staff recommends the City Council authorize Staff to submit an application for the Metropolitan Council's TOD Grant.

Preparation of the grant application would be handled through regular staff duties.  Staff would bring back any local match requirements at a future date prior to formally submitting the application.

Motion to authorize Staff to submit an application for the Metropolitan Council's TOD Grant and provide consensus/feedback on desired projects for funding.