Legislation to encourage construction of ‘missing middle’ housing gets committee approval

There's an old adage in real estate: "They ain't making any more land."

Faced with this reality, state legislators aiming to add thousands of more affordable homes to Minnesota's inventory have hit upon a straightforward solution: increase the number of homes per lot.

Affordable housing advocates say far too many communities allow only single-family homes in their residential areas. Rep. Larry Kraft (DFL-St. Louis Park) would like to see more of that land be used for smaller, less expensive options.

He sponsors HF2140 that would require cities to allow triplexes, fourplexes or other housing options that would result in higher density neighborhoods in a designated percentage of their residential zones. The House Housing Finance and Policy Committee approved the bill as amended Wednesday and sent it to the House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee.   

Hugo City Administrator Bryan Bear testifies before the housing committee March 12 regarding HF2140. Sponsored by Rep. Larry Kraft, right, the bill would require certain municipalities to create mixed housing districts and commercial corridor districts. (Photo by Michele Jokinen)

Kraft said the bill would move more toward performance standards rather than prescriptive proposals to address the so-called missing middle — the gap between single-family homes and apartment complexes. Communities would identify places to put higher-density neighborhoods if they meet state minimums.

The bill would not require overloading infrastructure or building in flood plains. "Let's not put houses in dumb places," Kraft said.

Municipalities would have the same approval process regardless of the home’s configuration.

Bill proponents argue that the predictability of a statewide standard would help speed up home production.

However, opponents say communities have put a lot of resources toward their land-use plans and adding greater density where the city hasn’t planned for it is problematic.  

Owatonna Community Development Manager Greg Kruschke said market forces which cause a house to cost the same to build in Rochester and Owatonna are more of an issue than zoning laws. Plus, the proposed legislation would usurp Owatonna’s recently adopted comprehensive plan that cost $150,000 to develop and included a lot of community engagement.