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Forest Lake objects to Met Council system statement, requests hearing on density and housing allocations
Summary
The council approved a resolution objecting to parts of the Met Council’s Imagine 2040 system statement, asking the Met Council to memorialize density flexibilities, raise the household forecast slightly, and review affordable housing bands; staff will request a hearing with the Met Council’s Land Use Advisory Committee.
The Forest Lake City Council voted to object to several elements of the Metropolitan Council’s Imagine 2040 system statement and to request a hearing with the Met Council’s Land Use Advisory Committee.
City staff told the council the city’s proposed change — increasing density requirements from 3.0 to 3.5 units per acre — and staff’s request for Met Council recognition of density flexibilities (e.g., land area for stormwater ponds, reasonable right‑of‑way widths) were central to the resolution. Staff also proposed raising Forest Lake’s 10‑year household forecast from 9,300 to 9,750 to better reflect local development activity.
“Staff’s specific amendment request is not that we would change our number necessarily, though we’d like that number to be reduced down,” Abby said, explaining the staff approach to memorialize flexibility and request an administrative hearing. The resolution also included an objection to the Met Council’s allocation bands for affordable housing (the city disputed the mix of units assigned by income band).
Council approved Resolution 11‑24‑25‑06 and directed staff to submit the resolution before the deadline; if granted a hearing, it would be scheduled within 60 days and could lead to formal Met Council consideration of amendments.
Next steps: staff will submit the resolution to the Met Council, pursue pre‑hearing discussions with Met Council staff, and appear before the Land Use Advisory Committee if necessary.
