This week, a renewed version of the “Yes to Homes” bill—now titled the “Starter Homes Act”—will be heard by Minnesota lawmakers. This bill would substitute the judgement of legislators’ and unaccountable developers for that of city officials and local residents regarding the future development of our cities.
This legislation once again attempts to address the desperate need for more housing everywhere in the state by preempting local decision-making and disregarding the work that cities are already doing to encourage housing in their communities.
We need your help to stop this legislation!
ACT NOW:
Contact your state senator, your state representative, legislative leaders, and the Governor’s office and urge them to oppose the “Starter Homes Act” and focus on solutions that work for Greater Minnesota.
Tell them:
- The “Starter Homes Act” does nothing to address the housing challenges in Greater Minnesota. Greater Minnesota is not facing a housing crisis because our cities are unwilling to allow new residential construction or reevaluate local policies. Our cities are facing a housing crisis because the cost of constructing a unit of housing is more than what our economies can support in rent or mortgages.
- Although improvements to the legislation have been made, the bill still seeks to substitute legislators’ judgements on density and land use for that of mayors, city council members, and residents. This legislation largely dismisses the efforts cities make and:
- Forces cities with populations over 5,000 to increase density, regardless of what the city needs or whether the city has made similar changes already.
- Imposes unreasonable minimum lot sizes regardless of what is needed in the community.
- Claims to offer cities choices, but those choices are greatly limited.
- Prohibits cities from imposing design and other standards while still allowing Homeowners Associations (HOAs) to do so.
- City officials in Greater Minnesota want to work with legislators to increase housing availability, but we need to work together on solutions that target the actual barriers we face. This legislation does not do that.
- Tell your story! If you have updated or will be updating your ordinances to increase density, to adjust or remove parking restrictions, matched your zoning in response to a housing study, or taken other steps aimed at increasing housing in your city, please mention that.
- Tell them this legislation is being heard this week, and they need to reach out to their colleagues to stop them from moving forward.
Contact info:
- Contact Governor Walz using the contact form here.
- Find your legislators’ contact information here.
- Click here to email House and Senate legislative leaders. If the link does not work in your email, you can find contact info for House leadership here and Senate leadership here.
Questions?
If you have any questions about these bills or this Action Alert, please contact CGMC lobbyist Elizabeth Wefel at eawefel@flaherty-hood.com or 651-259-1924.
