Background

The 2040 Comprehensive Plan is the guiding document for the planning and development of the City's land use, housing, water, sewer and transportation systems for the next two decades. This plan was formally adopted by this body and the City Council in November 2019 and has been approved and accepted by the Metropolitan Council. Since the time of it's adoption, development trends have changed greatly with the COVID-19 pandemic, and staff would like to proactively make changes that reflect what the development patterns that will likely be seen in the coming years. Cities may amend their comprehensive plans via local resolutions which are then reviewed by the Metropolitan Council. 

Proposed Changes 

Staff is proposing the following changes to the comprehensive plan, chapter 5A Built Environment. The document with the proposed changes is attached (note: the file was oversized, and is split into two pdfs to be read concurrently).

The proposed: 

• Minor in-text corrections for typos, figure labeling and other minor errors.
• The Entertainment District will allow for a density of 8-15 units when attached or detached townhomes are proposed, and 25-100 for all other type of residential uses. This is a decrease in density from 25-100 for all types of development. (shown in Figure 4.13 on page 139)
• The Downtown Transition District will allow for a density of 10-50 units, an increase in density from 3-12 units. (shown in Figure 4.13 on page 139)
• Density ranges are being adjusted to account for changes in the market and development patterns and to allow for better transitions between land use designations. (shown on page 139)
• Residential development potential and development phasing calculations have been modified to align with new density ranges. (shown in Figures 4.08 on page 132 and 4.11 on page 137)
• Minor text changes to primary and secondary uses are being made to better align with desired uses within land use designations  (shown on page 142).

Planning Commission Review

At their meeting on Jan. 7, 2021, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the City Council adopt the proposed changes to the comprehensive plan. 

Next Steps

If the changes are approved by the City Council, the document will be sent to adjacent and affected communities for a 60 day review period, and then sent to the Metropolitan Council for adoption.