PC Meeting Date: March 10, 2025
To: Members of the Planning Commission
From: Mikayla Schmidt, City Planner
Jake Reilly, Community Development Director
Title
Northfield 2045 Comprehensive Plan draft review and discussion
Body
Action Requested:
Review and discuss revised draft of Northfield 2045, the city’s Comprehensive Plan.
Summary Report:
This version of the draft Northfield 2045 Comprehensive Plan has been revised following two Planning Commission public hearings and three discussions at regular meetings of the Commission. The City Council most recently reviewed a draft and received an update at the February 11, 2025, meeting.
This version has background, analysis, and a policy direction or approach for all chapters of the plan. The remaining section to be completed is a tabular or graphic rendering connecting policy direction of the plan with how it can and will be implemented.
The policy direction of the document remains true to the historical approach to compact, and environmentally and financially sustainable approaches to development and redevelopment. Further, it addresses ensuring the safety of people traveling through and around Northfield, particularly those traveling outside of a motorized vehicle and strengthening economic opportunity for the community, and those who live, work, play and learn here. It is intended to strengthen relationships to other critical planning documents such as the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), along with some of the most recent planning efforts such as the Climate Action Plan and bicycle and pedestrian-related infrastructure planning. Additionally, staff is working to coordinate the shorter-term strategic plan efforts with the creation of this 20-year comprehensive planning document by embedding a menu of actions that could be contemplated by the City Council for incorporation into the metrics and outcomes for the shorter-term strategic plan. Aligning the two documents is intended to help ensure there are sufficient resources and an ability to achieve the goals in both.
Questions to consider:
How many land use categories are needed?
This plan lays the foundation for some of the proposed changes to the city’s zoning code. Staff will facilitate a discussion. Commissioners can anticipate at least one change from the current draft, which returns the College use to the text as a stand-alone land use.
Should Climate Action Plan strategies be included in the plan?
Elements that the city has control over from the adopted Climate Action Plan have been incorporated in full. Many of those have metrics associated with them. Some have voiced concern that these Actions in Strategy 6 are overly prescriptive and/or likely to change and/or unable to be measured. However, they are adopted city policy in a separate document. Staff recommends incorporating those the city has control or influence over into the document to provide a legal framework for implementation and to guide staff, policy advisors and City Council in decision-making.
What is or should be the definition of “small-scale multi-family?” and does the plan need to include a recommendation to increase the allowed density in low and medium density residential districts to something greater than three?
Small-scale multi-family buildings generally contain at least four units. Some small-scale multi-family residential buildings in the lower-density districts in Northfield have up to 15 units in them. Is there consensus as to what that range should be? This will inform the redesign of the zoning code, which is anticipated to focus on the building design and orientation on a lot rather than the dimensions of the building.
Existing city code allows up to three residential units to be built on a single residential lot in the low- and medium-density residential districts. There is an action to “increase the allowed density in residential districts.” Is there consensus on whether three is sufficient or if the minimum allowed density should be increased. If increased, what should be the minimum allowed density?
What graphics and or maps need to be added beyond the ones described in the text, but not yet added?
Staff will bring a list of options to the meeting.
Future land use map and interventions maps discussion
Staff will bring two versions of a future land use map for discussion purposes. One will look like those the Commission has already considered and drafted. This one will be for references purposes. The discussion will be focused on an updated future land use map that is clearer about:
• The future land uses and areas proposed for development outside the municipal boundary (priority growth area).
• The location of existing and future water and wastewater infrastructure.
• The adopted greenway plan and the proposed “greenbelt” that that defines the “edges” of the City.
A presentation to frame the discussion will be provided at the meeting.
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
Staff time.
Can provide policy support for grant applications and/or programs and projects.
Tentative Timelines:
March 10, 2025 - Planning Commission Special Meeting. Discuss draft text.
March 20, 2025 - Planning Commission Regular meeting. Review and discuss full document. Consider resolution recommending adoption to City Council.
April 17, 2025 - Consider resolution recommending adoption to City Council, if needed.
April/May 2025 - City Council adoption of Northfield 2045 Comprehensive Plan document.
March - December 2025 - concurrent effort to redesign the city’s zoning code (Chapter 42 of the the City’s Code of Ordinances)