Zoning
	Comprehensive Planning
	Housing Programs and Development
	EDA (Redevelopment Opportunities)

The City of Robbinsdale has an established Zoning ordinance and Zoning map. The City's Zoning ordinance is a tool used to implement  the land use goals of the Comprehensive Plan.  It sets forth laws which regulate the way in which the land may be used by property owners and protects the health, safety and welfare of the public. All land within the City has a land-use designation which is shown on the Zoning Map as a land-use district. The Zoning Ordinance contains text which regulates how the land and buildings within each district may be used.

The Zoning Ordinance sets standards for the development of individual lots and the use of individual buildings and land within each district. These standards establish minimum lot size, yard requirements, number of households permitted per lot (density), maximum building size, lot coverage, placement of buildings, on-site parking, signs, noise, lighting, and other parameters on how property may be used.

The Community Development Staff enforces zoning regulations on a day-to-day basis, reviews all proposed development applications for compliance and processes applications for development approvals. The City's Planning Commission is made up of five resident board members and reviews all development applications for compliance with zoning regulations and makes recommendations to the City Council on development applications.

The Zoning Ordinance is available to view or download by following this hyperlink. The Zoning Map is available to view by following this hyperlink.

	Click on the Autodesk DWF Viewer graphic on the left  to download the the free Autodesk DWF Viewer.  Once you are at the Autodesk web site for the United States, click on the Products link, find the listing for the Autodesk DWF Viewer, click on the link and follow it to the download page. The Autodesk DWF Viewer is needed to view the Robbinsdale Zoning Map and the Robbinsdale Address Map.  Right clicking on the map will display a menu that allows you to Zoom in and navigate around the map.
Robbinsdale Comprehensive Plan -Update Progress

The current Comprehensive Plan contains the official policies for growth, redevelopment and infrastructure improvements to guide land use decisions, development requests and public investments based upon projections to the year 2020.  The city is now working on an update for the plan that will extend the planning framework to the year 2030.   The reasons for this are several:

1.                   The assumptions and data that helped shape the 2020 comprehensive plan are now 15-20 years old (based upon the 1990 census), and changes can influence the outcome of the planning process.

2.                   Census information from the 2000 census has now been available for several years, and projections in population, households and employment to the year 2030 have been made by the Metropolitan Council.

3.                   The Metropolitan Council projects that the seven-county metropolitan area will add an additional 1 million people by 2030.   Robbinsdale’s proportionate “share” of the growth is about 3,000 new people and 900 new housing units.   The Comprehensive Plan sets the policies for where and how these new residents will live.

4.                   New trends, and market conditions particularly in housing may influence previously held assumptions.

5.                   All metropolitan area cities are required by state law to review and update their Comprehensive Plans and submit them for review by the Met Council buy the end of 2008.     

 The Planning Commission and city staff are in the process of preparing its recommendations to the City Council for updating the Comprehensive Plan for 2030.   Open houses were conducted in April and May of 2007 for public comment, however, comments or questions are still welcomed.  The Comp Plan update must be completed by the end of June.    Public hearings are anticipated to be scheduled in April or May, 2008. Questions and comments should be directed to Rick Pearson at 763-531-1266 or Shari Ross at 763-531-1269.    

The City of Robbinsdale participates in the following housing programs:

	Hennepin County administers Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) rehab funds on behalf of the City for low and moderate income households. Eligible properties: owner occupied single-family and two family units.
	HOME funds are used to provide homeownership opportunities for households up to 80% of median income through the Northwest Community Revitalization Corporation (NWCRC). Contact City staff regarding the program. These funds are used to provide down payment assistance for ownership.

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) deferred loan rehabilitation funds are administered on behalf of the City by Hennepin County for low-income households. MHFA also funds a First Time Homebuyers Program that is administered through Lenders and Hennepin County.

Section 8 - Rental assistance, Richard Michalak is the program contact at 651-602-1625.

Hennepin County administers, on behalf of the City, the following programs: CDBG, MHFA rehab funds, and the First Time Home Buyers Program.  The contact for the CDBG and MHFA rehab funds is Jim Graham at 612-348-2235.  First Time Home buyers should contact participating lenders.

	The REDA acquires substandard single-family properties and then facilitates the redevelopment through the following programs:  1) Hennepin Technical College (HTC):  the HTC builds one market rate single-family unit per year (The REDA then sells the home –no City financing available) 2) Private Development; vacant lots are sold for custom-built single-family homes that are market rate (develop 1-2 lots per year on average) 3) CHDO projects; new construction or substantial rehab of single-family homes for sale to households up to 80% median income. The current HTC project is at 3860 Major Ave N went on the market in June 2007- asking price $359,900.   Last year's large 5-bedoom home at 4439 Lakeland Avenue North is still waiting for the right buyer - asking price $385,000. The REDA continues to pursue acquisition of properties for single family redevelopment - 2 are under construction at 4310 Toledo Ave N and 4150 Lake Road.  To get on the mailing lists for HTC Projects, Lots for Sale, or CHDO Projects, call the Community Development Department at 763-531-1269 or email Shari at sross@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us.

The City of Robbinsdale continues to participate in the Northwest Resource Center.  The Center serves as a "one-stop" approach to assist homeowners with housing rehabilitation and other needs.    Free construction management is also a service offered by the Housing Resource Center.  Robbinsdale residents should take advantage of these and other services offered at the Northwest Resource Center.

For further information, you may visit the Center at 2140 44^th Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55412 or call 612-588-3033.