Planning Commission Meeting Date: January 16, 2025
To: Members of the Planning Commission
From: Jake Reilly, Community Development Director
Mikayla Schmidt, City Planner
Title
Comprehensive Plan Draft Review and Discussion.
Body
Action Requested:
Review and discuss the draft of the 2045-horizon Comprehensive Plan.
Summary Report:
This draft of the Northfield 2045 Comprehensive Plan has been revised from the December Public Hearing draft to respond to questions, comments, and concerns raised at that hearing and during the Planning Commission discussion.
This version reorganizes text for legibility and consistency throughout and has addressed inconsistencies in the previous draft as well as filled in gaps identified by commentors, as necessary.
Some of the work that will take place following the public hearing includes:
• Ensuring the “outcomes” statements are statements that clearly identify the end result of following the guidance in the plan.
• Completing an implementation matrix that lists all of the stated actions.
• Filling in gaps in the Infrastructure Chapter such as identifying existing plan documents related to water, wastewater, roadway, municipal facilities, parks, trails, trees and other infrastructure-related systems to be updated, and identifying measurable outcomes and ways to measure progress toward them.
• Clarifying definitions, perhaps through a glossary; and
• Adding in maps, tables, and beautiful graphics and photographs to support the text.
Background
As noted previously, this Comprehensive Plan document is different from previous iterations in that it is outcomes focused. This is intentional and designed to leave flexibility in implementation activities in order to most effectively meet the changing needs of the community, respond as quickly as possible to changing market conditions, technology, funding opportunities, and strategic direction as set by the Council and other advisory boards and commissions, including the Planning Commission.
The 2045-horizon Comprehensive Plan was initiated in October 2023 after a request for qualifications was issued. The plan is on-track to be adopted before the close of the first quarter of 2025.
As a reminder, staff is working to ensure clear connections to other critical planning documents such as the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and the shorter-term strategic plan efforts in those conversations and have presented those links to members of boards and commissions.
A supplemental memo will be provided Monday that includes a summary of changes between this text version and the previous and will include the future land use and interventions maps.
Alternative Options:
The commission could choose to recommend the draft plan (with or without any amendments) to the City Council for consideration at a February meeting.
Financial Impacts:
TBD
Tentative Timeline:
Comprehensive Plan Update Timeline
• October 28, 2023: Public Kick-off meeting for the Comprehensive Plan, Greenvale Park School R
• November 7, 2023: Steering Committee appointed by City Council
• November 11, 2023: Staff requests adjustments to scope and schedule based on an understanding that Planning Commission members are interested in more communication from the consultant team, or staff, about the Plan.
• December 18, 2023: Steering Committee meeting No. 1 R
• December 20, 2023 - Northfield Youth on Boards/Mayor’s Youth Council and members of Age Friendly Northfield steering committee R
• January - March 2024 - Vision phase: Staff/consultant team meets with other boards/commissions for structured/facilitated conversations about desired outcomes of 2045-horizon comprehensive plan.
§ January 17, 2024 - Environmental Quality Commission R
§ January 29, 2024 - Housing and Redevelopment Authority R
§ February 5, 2024 - Parks and Recreation Advisory Board R
§ February 7, 2024 - Heritage Preservation commission R
§ February 14, 2024 - Library Board R
§ February 26, 2024 - Economic Development Authority R
§ February 28, 2024 - Human Rights Commission R
§ March 14, 2024 - Laura Baker Services Association R
• February 28, 2024 - Steering Committee meeting No. 2 R
• February/March, 2024 - Pop-up engagement events: Northfield Hospital, Kwik Trip/Post, Dawn’s Corner Bar, Viking Terrace, NCRC/50th North/Library Oasis R
• January through April 2024 - Analysis Phase
• April 11, 2024 - Rotary Club of Northfield R
• April 18, 2024 - Planning Commission discussion R
• May 16, 2024 - Planning Commission discussion, DRAFT Climate Analysis R
• May 22, 2024 - Steering Committee No. 3 R
• May 29, 2024 - Joint work session Planning Commission and Economic Development Authority R
• April through July 2024 - Plan Phase
• July 24, 2024 - Steering Committee No. 4 R
• July 25, 2024 - Open House at Northfield Public Library, Crazy Days R
• August 29, 2024 - Steering Committee No. 5 R
• September 19, 2024 - HRA Update on comprehensive planning R
• October 8, 2024 - City Council work session R
• October 9, 2024 - Implementation work session with City staff R
• October 9, 2024 - Steering Committee No. 6 R
• October 29. 2024 - Draft open house event, City Hall
• October 30, 2024 - Planning Commission work session R
• December 2, 2024 - Public Hearing draft available R
• December 19, 2024 - Public Hearing, Planning Commission
• January 16, 2025 - Public Hearing (part 2), Planning Commission
• February 20, 2025 - Recommendation to Council
• March 4, 2025 - Adoption of final document by Council