Opinion editor's note: Star Tribune Opinion publishes letters from readers online and in print each day. To contribute, click here . ••• Thursday's commentary "Planning for a livable, beautiful Minneapolis" (Opinion Exchange) by Tim Keane was spot-on.
In 2021, the California Legislature passed a new housing production bill called Senate Bill 9. The legislation allows homeowners to convert a single-family home into a duplex — or split a single-family lot into two parcels with the potential to build a duplex on each. No need for discretionary approval from local government (a streamlined approach often referred to as "by right").
The results? A year after the law took effect, the housing production pipeline resulting from SB 9 was dismal. According to the Los Angeles Times, SB 9 produced only 282 applications across 13 major cities in California. Only 100 of these applications were for a lot split — the mechanism enabled by the bill that holds the most promise for adding significant amounts of housing.
Supporters of the Minneapolis 2040 Plan wildly exaggerate the impact it will have on generating affordable housing. How many people have the money — or interest — in building a second home on their property? It's a big risk in a city that makes renting a property difficult and expensive. Second, according to the Metropolitan Council, Minneapolis is set grow by only 11% in the next 20 years.
Has the mayor and City Council even asked themselves whether the 2040 Plan i.
