Maple Grove Planning Board Members Decry Lack of Affordable Housing
Discussion over a rental townhome project has sparked conversation about the needs for more housing options in Maple Grove.
“When we talk about having housing in the middle, or housing types, we aren’t building a lot of affordable townhomes, and that is the affordable housing now in Maple Grove, is townhomes,” said Mike Ostaffe, Maple Grove Planning Commission member.
The Maple Grove Planning Commission heard plans on Sept. 9 for a rental townhome project, located northeast of Lawndale Lane and 98th Avenue, in the northwest corner of the city.
Plans previously called for a 200-unit apartment building. But developers behind the project said higher construction costs and interest rates no longer made that project feasible.
“If we’re taking out an apartment building that was going to be a more affordable housing solution, I can tell you from being a business owner in the community, that we can’t get workers into the city, they’re taking jobs closer to their homes,” said Joe Piket, Maple Grove Planning Commission member. “Maple Grove doesn’t have places to live for these people to live. Apartments are going to be cheaper than townhomes.”
Rendering of rental townhomes proposed by Nörsq Cos.
Proposal for Market-Rate Rental Townhomes
Plymouth-based Nörsq Cos. is proposing 53 rental townhomes that’s in addition to 155 townhomes previously approved in the development.
The rental townhomes are market rate. Two-bed townhomes would rent for $2,685; 3-bed townhomes for $3,130.
Jeff Koch, founder and owner of Nörsq Cos., addressed the affordable housing concern.
“To combat housing affordability, you need to have a multi-tiered, more diverse housing stock, and putting in more apartments is not what the city of Maple Grove needs, you guys have made that loud and clear to us,” said Koch.
Koch added, “We’re providing a new opportunity for the nurses at Maple Grove Hospital, the new employees at Boston Scientific for a new place to live, coupled with the baby boomers that might want to downsize.”
City planning officials said Maple Grove is meeting Metropolitan Council requirements on affordable housing. Maple Grove Planning Manager Peter Vickerman said other sites are being looked at to address housing needs.
“We still have a lot of our mixed use areas, where there’s at least an opportunity to have that discussion throughout the city,” said Vickerman.
The Maple Grove Planning Commission recommended denial of the rental townhomes in a 4-3 vote, largely because of parking concerns. Planning Commission member Chuck Lenthe, who recommended denial, said he wanted the apartment building originally proposed.
The city council has the final say on the project, a vote scheduled for tonight.
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