Minnetonka panel reviews 2025 community development report, housing projects and eviction data

The Minnetonka Economic Development Advisory Commission on March 12 received the Community Development Department’s 2025 annual report and updates on housing, development and local eviction data.

Chair Commissioner Connors opened the meeting and staff member Ms. Wyszniak delivered the department overview, saying the department includes about 30 full‑ and part‑time employees and handles planning, building permits, licensing and public‑health inspections. "We do this every year for those who are newer to the commission," she said while reviewing staffing, projects and outreach tools including web story maps used to centralize developer requirements.

Ms. Wyszniak highlighted the recently completed Chasewood housing improvement area (HIA), describing it as 21 buildings with 188 units and saying the project was completed for roughly $10.8 million. She emphasized the city acts as a financing conduit — not the direct payer — when homeowners repay assessments tied to improvements.

On financing, staff said the city pooled about $5.2 million into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and reported a fund balance near $7 million to support future affordable‑housing projects. Staff also noted a pending Habitat for Humanity homeownership grant of about $420,000 expected to advance this spring.

The department reported strong permitting and construction activity in 2025: roughly $300 million in…