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How Land Use, Zoning, and Planning Affect Suburban Multifamily Development

An event exploring influences on multifamily development in growing suburban cities in the Twin Cities region

February 14, 2024 | 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. CT
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

How Land Use, Zoning, and Planning Affect Suburban Multifamily Development

On February 14, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, in collaboration with the Sensible Land Use Coalition and the Twin Cities Housing Alliance, presented an exploration of new research on how land use, zoning, and planning processes influence multifamily development in growing suburban cities in the Twin Cities region.

Development processes can affect the quantity, cost, and location of multifamily housing. The rules governing these processes are largely set at a local level. Researchers from the Minneapolis Fed’s Community Development and Engagement team fielded a survey to learn how local rules in the Twin Cities metro area would treat a hypothetical multifamily development. At this event, Fed researchers revealed the results. Panels featuring community development directors and local housing developers further discussed the findings and their relevance to broader conversations about the region’s housing supply.

Speakers:

Event Details

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Event Agenda

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

9:00 a.m.–9:05 a.m. CT Welcome
Alene Tchourumoff, Community Development and Engagement, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
9:05 a.m.–9:20 a.m. CT Overview of Survey Results
Speaker: Ben Horowitz, Community Development and Engagement, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
9:20 a.m.–9:50 a.m. CT Panel: City Responses to Survey Results
Moderator: Libby Starling, Community Development and Engagement, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Panelists:
  • Regina Dean, City of Savage
  • Janice Gundlach, City of Roseville
  • Nick Johnson, City of Bloomington
9:50 a.m.–10:25 a.m. CT Panel: How Developers and Cities Can Learn from the Survey
Moderator: Cathy Bennett, Twin Cities Housing Alliance
Panelists:
  • Jill Hutmacher, City of Eagan
  • Paul Keenan, Reuter Walton
  • Joseph Peris, Ryan Companies
  • Julie Wischnack, City of Minnetonka
10:25 a.m.–10:30 a.m. CT Closing and Next Steps
Speaker: Alene Tchourumoff, Community Development and Engagement, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Additional Resources


Presenter Information

Cathy Bennett

Cathy Bennett Executive Director
Twin Cities Housing Alliance

Cathy Bennett is the executive director for Twin Cities Housing Alliance (TCHA), where she has worked since March 2022. Prior to joining TCHA, Bennett owned and operated Bennett Community Consulting. She has also previously worked as a consultant for the Urban Land Institute.

Regina Dean

Regina Dean Community Development Director
City of Savage

Regina Dean is the community development director for the City of Savage. Dean was named director in October 2023. She previously served as the assistant community development director for the City of Burnsville.

Janice Gundlach

Janice Gundlach Community Development Director
City of Roseville

Janice Gundlach is the community development director for the City of Roseville, where she has served since February 2019. Gundlach was previously director of community development for the City of Inver Grove Heights.

Ben Horowitz

Ben Horowitz Senior Policy Analyst, Community Development and Engagement
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Ben Horowitz is a senior policy analyst in the Minneapolis Fed’s Community Development and Engagement Division. Before coming to the Bank, Ben worked for a labor union and in the nonprofit sector.

Jill Hutmacher

Jill Hutmacher Director of Community Development
City of Eagan

Jill Hutmacher is the director of community development for the City of Eagan, where she has served since May 2016. Hutmacher previously served as director of community development for the City of Arden Hills.

Nick Johnson

Nick Johnson Senior Planner
City of Bloomington

Nick Johnson is the senior planner in Long Range Planning at the City of Bloomington, serving in this role since June of 2022. He previously worked in Current Planning/Development Review from 2015 to 2022. Prior to his work at Bloomington, Johnson worked as a city planner for the City of Lake Elmo.

Paul Keenan

Paul Keenan Vice President of Development
Reuter Walton

Paul Keenan is the vice president of development at Reuter Walton Companies. Keenan joined Reuter Walton in May 2019, having previously worked for Roers Investments and Sherman Associates.

Joseph Peris

Joseph Peris Director of Real Estate Development
Ryan Companies

Joseph Peris is the director of real estate development at Ryan Companies, where he previously worked as a real estate development manager. Peris previously worked for HFF and Target.

Libby Starling

Libby Starling Senior Community Development Advisor, Community Development and Engagement
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Libby Starling is senior community development advisor in Community Development and Engagement at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, where she focuses on housing affordability and housing policies.

Alene Tchourumoff

Alene Tchourumoff Senior Vice President, Community Development and Engagement
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Alene Tchourumoff is the senior vice president of Community Development and Engagement and the Center for Indian Country Development, where she leads the Bank’s engagement with communities throughout the Ninth Federal Reserve District.

Julie Wischnack, AICP

Julie Wischnack, AICP Community Development Director
City of Minnetonka

Julie Wischnack, AICP, is the director of community development for the City of Minnetonka, where she has served since July 2006. Wischnack previously served as director of planning, zoning, and building for the City of Hutchinson.