Staff: rezoning strategy central to Hyde Park27s moderate-income housing compliance; report submitted to state

City staff presented the biannual report on moderate‑income housing to the Hyde Park City Council on July 9, saying the city27s compliance with state requirements centers on rezoning property for greater residential density.

"This report is presented to the city council and the planning commission every 6 months to give an update on how we are doing with our compliance or moderate income housing situation," Marcus (city staff) said. He told the council staff had tallied more than 1,000 potential housing units across rezoned and proposed developments, with more townhomes counted than apartments.

Marcus explained that state compliance is tied to the city27s selected strategies; Hyde Park currently emphasizes rezoning as its principal strategy. He noted that even if a private developer were to build deed‑restricted or income‑restricted units in a project, those units would not count toward the state compliance total unless the city had selected a strategy that counted deed‑restricted units. "Would it be a good thing for the city? Absolutely," Marcus said, "but it would not help us with our state compliance."

Councilmembers asked about potential changes to state reporting frequency and whether the city should add strategies such as promoting accessory dwelling units (ADUs) or counting existing lower‑cost older housing stock; staff said they would prepare options for council consideration after monitoring legislative changes.

Ending: Staff will report the final biannual submission to the planning commission and the state and will bring options to council if the legislature or the city chooses to change compliance strategies.