WORKSHOP ITEM Bryan K. Schafer, Planning and Community Development Director
Title
2040 GOALS DISCUSSION
Background
The city is in the process of updating the comprehensive plan, in accordance with state law. The process began in April and staff and consultants (WSB) have met monthly since then. Work has included reviewing the existing comprehensive plan, analyzing and collecting data about land use, housing, parks, and natural resources, and developing revised, draft goals for each of these chapters. Critical to the work has been the public participation, which has consisted of meeting with the Park Board, the NRCB, the Planning Commission, an online engagement tool, and the general public at the Blaine Festival.
We have spoken to approximately 100 residents to date, and plan to complete more engagement efforts as the draft plan is developed. Overall, the people that have been engaged are very happy with the direction of the city related to growth, development, and re-development. People like the parks, the recent trail connections, the Lakes development (for its variety and park amenities), and the variety of housing options in the city. By far, the largest concern is Highway 65. Concerns include the congestion on the roadway, approaching and entering the roadway, and access/crossing the roadway on foot or bike. People have remarked that the recent interchange at Central and 125th Avenue has been a vast improvement to the corridor.
Discussion
The purpose of the meeting tonight is to discuss the revised, draft goals for land use, housing, natural resources, and parks, as amended in conjunction with city staff, the Parks Board, the NRCB and Planning Commission, and the feedback from the public. Additionally, some of the updates are related to changing trends in growth and development or demographic changes in the community. Overall, the enclosed goals are not significant policy changes from the last comprehensive plan. Enclosed is a comparison chart of the land use, housing, parks, and natural resources goals from the 2009 plan to the proposed language for the update for your review and for discussion.
Please note that the goals are drafted to be quite general in nature. As part of the plan update we also need to include an implementation component that will have more specific steps or proposed actions that make up the implementation of the overall plan.
Next Steps
The comprehensive plan update is planned to continue through the summer with the development of goals for transportation and economic development. Through the end of the year, draft chapters will be written that include demographic and market trend data, including policies and action items for implementation of the goals and policies in the plan. We plan to complete another round of public participation with the commissions, the public, and the council when we have developed draft plans for review. Upon city acceptance of the draft chapters and a public hearing (planned for early 2018), the draft plan will be submitted to Met Council for preliminary review and surrounding jurisdiction review (6 months). It is anticipated that the final plan will be reviewed by the city late 2018.
Recommendation
Discuss and provide feedback on the Draft 2040 Goals.
Attachment
• What is a Comprehensive Plan?
• Draft 2040 Goals (land use, housing, natural resources and parks)