The update of the city’s Comprehensive Plan has entered the public comment period, with the Planning Commission hosting a public hearing on April 8. Residents are encouraged to review the document and provide feedback during the public meeting. All comments will be presented to the Council on May 5.
The plan establishes the vision of the community through both an examination of where we are today, and what do we hope to become. Through the understanding of all the systems of a city, including parks, transportation, housing, utility, environment, the plan guides how the city reacts to development proposals, what needs to be preserved, and what needs to be enhanced over the next decade. If there is vacant property near you, the Comprehensive Plan has information on what is planned for that property.
The Comprehensive Plan incorporates other recently approved plans, including the Mississippi Connections Downtown Plan (completed in 2012), the FAST study (2010), and the Highway 10 and Highway 169 geometric studies (2008). It also incorporates plans completed by Sherburne County.
In addition to these plans, the major changes from 2004 include:
~Commercial Reserve (Development) District is expanded to include the mining area west of Highway 169.
~Commercial Reserve along Highway 10 on the east side was removed, in favor of Highway business, mixed use, and open space.
~Wetlands and the floodplain are shown on the land use map, in part to establish expectations early in land use decision making.
~The Elk River Gun Club is shown as open space, similar to the designation for the Elk River Golf Course.
~The urban service area is expanded to include residential properties along Yale Street and 175th Avenue. This allows for planning for eventual expansion of the water and sanitary sewer system.
~City-owned land north of the Youth Athletic Complex is guided for industrial uses, from rural residential uses.