As part of the May 19, 2026 agenda, staff propose a Comprehensive Plan text amendment to expand the High Density Residential category from 8–24 units per acre to 8–80 units per acre, aligning the 2040 Plan with the RM‑3 zoning district adopted in 2025. This follows the 2025 Maxfield Housing Study, which found demand for roughly 2,439 units through 2035, with strong needs in affordable, workforce, and senior multifamily segments, and the 2024–26 Strategic Plan directive to remove zoning barriers and identify sites for multifamily. Staff emphasize that actual densities will still be constrained by parking, stormwater, grading, fire access, and design standards, and that this is the first phase of a broader housing implementation effort including additional site evaluations, land feasibility studies, and downtown/infill work. Vendors that support housing policy, zoning rewrites, land use economics, and public engagement can help Red Wing refine where and how to apply higher-density entitlements, integrate infrastructure planning, and translate the housing study into actionable project pipelines beyond the three initial sites.

City also has a separate grant-funded land feasibility study underway for larger sites near the Tech...