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People's Energy Cooperative pitches attainable housing site to Oronoco planning commission
Summary
People's Energy Cooperative told the Oronoco planning commission it will seek developer qualifications to pursue medium‑density, attainable housing on a co‑op‑owned parcel; the co‑op estimated multi‑unit development could produce materially larger annual revenue to the city than single‑family development.
Marty Walsh, economic development and key accounts manager for People's Energy Cooperative, briefed the commission on a co‑op‑owned parcel north of the cooperative's building and outlined plans to solicit developers for an attainable housing project.
Walsh said the co‑op is not pursuing subsidized affordable housing; rather, it intends to issue a request for qualifications to find a developer experienced in attainable housing models. He said the parcel is 175 feet wide and currently zoned manufacturing but that the long‑term land‑use plan anticipates the area as R2. Walsh said the co‑op may use the proposed development‑flex (DF) process or pursue an R2 rezoning if necessary.
Fiscal note: Walsh told the commission that at 6–8 units per acre the city could expect roughly $100,000 annually in combined water and property‑tax revenue, versus about $10,000 annually under a one‑home‑per‑acre scenario — a figure he used to illustrate differences in revenue potential between medium‑density and single‑family outcomes.
Next steps: Walsh said the co‑op expects to issue a developer RFQ in the coming weeks and will return to commission and council with any specific proposals; any rezoning or DF application would require public hearings and council approval.
