This week, the Senate and House Housing Committees will be hearing multiple bills that 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 so-called “Yes to Homes” legislative package attempts to address the desperate need for more housing everywhere in the state by slapping handcuffs on local government and imposing unfunded mandates along with unrealistic goals. You can learn more about our concerns in the attached handout here.

We need your help to stop this package of legislation!

ACT NOW:

Contact your state senator, state representative, and the Governor’s office and urge them to oppose the “Yes To Homes” package and focus on solutions that work for Greater Minnesota.

Tell them:

  1. The so-called “Yes To Homes” package does nothing to address the housing crisis 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.  
  2. This legislation ignores all the efforts cities make and insists upon a one-size-fits-all centralized approach from St. Paul that (among other provisions):
    • Forces cities to rezone their entire community to increase density, regardless of what the city needs or whether the city has made similar changes already. 
    • Imposes unreasonable minimum lot sizes and minimal setbacks.
    • Prohibits cities from dealing with local parking challenges.
    • Prohibits cities from imposing design and other standards while still allowing Homeowners Associations (HOAs) to do so.
  3. 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.
  4. 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. 
  5. Tell them these bills are 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.

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.