Cook County HRA adopts strategic plan and approves multiple housing initiatives, sets public outreach for new overlay district

The Cook County Housing and Redevelopment Authority unanimously adopted a strategic planning report and approved a series of resolutions to advance housing priorities across the county, the board said at its August meeting. The board approved the strategic‑planning report (Resolution 25‑10) and then passed a group of follow‑up resolutions authorizing steps on a local housing trust fund, county outreach on a residential open‑space overlay district, assisted‑living and elder‑housing planning, a comprehensive county housing plan, and measures to promote energy efficiency and lower operating costs in new housing.

Jeff (HRA staff) summarized the package and said the resolutions are intended to move the HRA from planning into implementation. “This will start us down the road of creating that local housing trust fund,” he said about the trust‑fund resolution, and he noted state legislative changes allow matching grants for newly created local housing trust funds.

Why it matters: board members said the measures respond to Cook County’s long‑running housing challenges — a shortage of units, a need for lower‑cost operating housing and a lack of assisted‑living capacity — and are intended to help the county attract funding, coordinate infrastructure and spur developer interest.

What the board approved - Resolution 25‑10: Adoption of the strategic planning report (approved). - Resolution 25‑11: Authority to create a local housing trust fund and begin the steps needed to establish a governing body for that fund (approved). Staff discussed fundraising paths and the potential to seek state matching funds. - Resolution 25‑12: Authorization to hold five public ROSO (residential open‑space overlay) meetings — one per commissioner district — and distribute a mailer to landowners with 15 acres or more; the board proposed outreach meetings at multiple community sites and asked realtors, contractors and local bankers to participate (approved). - Resolution 25‑13: Authorization to begin community conversations and feasibility work on assisted living and elder housing, including potential town‑hall meetings and outreach to local health and care partners (approved). - Resolution 25‑14: Authorization to create a countywide comprehensive housing plan, a process staff estimated could be completed in about a year (approved). - Resolution 25‑15: Support for promoting high‑efficiency, low operating‑cost housing—staff will explore partnerships with local and statewide energy and housing organizations to embed efficiency measures in future projects (approved).

The board also discussed a late addition, Resolution 25‑16, requesting an I triple r grant application for a proposed Bjorkberg project in Grand Marais. Jeff said a letter from a developer (identified in the meeting as John Petters) asked the HRA to apply for up to $220,000 in grant funds to extend water and sewer and support a six‑unit development. Commissioners raised substantive questions about project details, timing and intended occupancy and requested additional information before authorizing an application. Concerns included whether restrictions tied to occupancy would comply with fair‑housing rules and whether the project’s scope merited subsidy when compared with competing applications. The board did not approve 25‑16 at the meeting and directed staff to gather details and, if needed, schedule a special meeting to consider an application.

Meeting discussion and next steps Board members emphasized collaboration with state partners and local stakeholders. Commissioner Gamble praised the way the pilot programs and strategic planning were executed, saying the county had built integrity into the work and created a model “that other communities can use.” Staff identified possible immediate funding sources and matches, including a prior $90,000 receipt from Cascade Vacation Rentals that could be earmarked for trust‑fund priorities, Minnesota Housing Partnership technical support and $630,000 in a recently received IRRR (reported as nitriple r in the meeting) award tied to the Heights project with a $200,000 ARPA match already disbursed to a developer.

Officials said the ROSO outreach will include a mailed flyer (targeted to landowners with 15+ acres) and five in‑person meetings located across the county (example meeting site identified as Fire Hall No. 1 — the Shop Community Center on the Gunflint Trail). Staff estimated the assisted‑living conversations and community outreach would take place before next summer and that the comprehensive housing plan could be produced in roughly a year, subject to grant support and stakeholder engagement.

Votes at a glance - Adoption of agenda amendment adding Resolution 25‑16: passed (voice vote). - Approval of July meeting minutes: passed (voice vote). - Resolution 25‑10 (adopt strategic plan): passed (motion and second recorded; voice vote "Aye"). - Resolution 25‑11 (local housing trust fund): passed (motion and second recorded; voice vote "Aye"). - Resolution 25‑12 (ROSO outreach and five public meetings): passed (motion and second recorded; voice vote "Aye"). - Resolution 25‑13 (assisted living/elder housing planning): passed (motion and second recorded; voice vote "Aye"). - Resolution 25‑14 (comprehensive county housing plan): passed (motion and second recorded; voice vote "Aye"). - Resolution 25‑15 (promote energy efficiency / lower operating cost housing): passed (motion and second recorded; voice vote "Aye"). - Resolution 25‑16 (I triple r grant application for Bjorkberg project): not approved; staff to collect more project details and consider a special meeting if application timing requires action.

Board members asked staff to return with additional detail on funding mechanisms, eligibility rules and any legal or fair‑housing concerns tied to project proposals that request public subsidy. Staff also committed to continuing ROSO outreach, coordinating assistance for the assisted‑living inquiry, and seeking state and philanthropic partners for the new local housing trust fund.