HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-01-23 Special CC Meeting -f,i , ter
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The Birthplace of Minnesota www.ci.stillwater.mn.us
AGENDA
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 23, 2018
SPECIAL MEETING 6:30 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
11. ROLL CALL
111. OTHER BUSINESS
1. Comprehensive Plan Discussion - City Council, Planning Commission and Comp Plan
Advisory Committee Workshop
IV. ADJOURNMENT
2018 Comprehensive Plan Goals
City Council, Planning Commission and
Comp Plan Advisory Committee
Workshop
January 23, 2018
6:30 PM, City Council Chambers
Purpose of Workshop
The purpose of this workshop is to bring the Stillwater City Council, Planning Commission
and the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee together to consider revisions and
additions to the 2008 Comprehensive Plan Goals. The revisions will inform the 2018
Comprehensive Plan update.
Background
In 2007 and 2008 various committees and sub-committees invested nine months of effort
developing the goals, objectives, policies and programs that became the foundation for the
2008 Comprehensive Plan. This included a series of neighborhood goal visioning sessions.
Because of the extensive work done on that set of goals, the 2018 Comprehensive Plan will
build off of those goals rather than toss them out and begin anew.
The Trail Plan and Downtown Plan for the 2018 Comp Plan have already been completed,
and with those plans the goals for each were also revised. And on December 18, 2017 the
Park Commission reviewed the goals for the parks, trails and riverfront chapter. Now our
goal reviewing turns to the remaining chapters in the Comprehensive Plan, which are: land
use; transportation; natural resources &open spaces; community resources; housing; and
economic development'.
Action
The City Council, Planning Commission and Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee
should give thought to each of the attached 2008 goals and objectives. The policies and
programs will not be considered at this workshop. Rather, they will be integrated into the
discussions of each chapter as that chapter is considered over the next several months.
For the review of the goals and objectives, please consider: 1) Has the goal already been
achieved? If so should it be removed as a 2018 goal? 2) If it has not been achieved,
should it remain as it is? Or, should it be revised?
Thought should also be given to whether new goals and objectives ought to be added to our
2018 plan.
1 Under separate contracts and public processes,there will be a water resources chapter update and a complete
re-write of the historical resources chapter as well for the 2018 plan.
2008 Stillwater Comprehensive Plan
Goals, objectives, policies and programs
Land Use
Goals
Goal 1. Maintain Stillwater as a separate and distinct community from the surrounding area.
Goal 2. Utilize the future land use map as the overall land use policy statement by
designating residential, commercial and parks and open space lands appropriately located
with adequate access and buffering from adjacent uses.
Goal 3. Create new, interesting, quality-designed neighborhoods that relate to their natural
settings and surroundings developed areas that protect natural resources, and that provide
central parks and open spaces that are interconnected by trails to neighborhood community
destinations.
Goal 4. Continue establishing the greenbelt in the western and northern portions of the City.
Objectives
Designate lands appropriately located for a range of residential uses, neighborhood,
commercial, light industrial, parks and open spaces on the land use map.
When feasible, nonresidential land use such as neighborhood, commercial and schools
shall be buffered from all adjacent residential uses, connected by trails to residential areas
and appear subdued in a landscaped setting as viewed from the public roads.
Provide for a range of new housing opportunities from large lot single family to multifamily.
Community Size, Shape, Separation and Buffering
Objectives
Determine the desired growth rate and phase urban services to accommodate the growth to
2020 and 2030.
Promote the orderly, planned and harmonious development of Stillwater and its
surroundings.
Comp Plan Goals
Page 2 of 11
Encourage neighboring communities to incorporate compatible land uses along their
corporate limits that are shared with the City of Stillwater.
Transportation
Goals
Goal 1. Provide efficient and environmentally sound transportation.
Goal 2. Develop a coordinated transportation system that provides for local as well as area-
wide traffic.
Goal 3. Make it easy and convenient to travel in and around Stillwater; tie allowable new
development to the capacity of roadways; limit impact of non-residential traffic in
neighborhoods when possible and develop a comprehensive sidewalk, trail and bikeway
system.
Goal 4. Support construction of the new interstate bridge and TH 36 corridor improvements
to provide for regional traffic demands and to relieve cut-through traffic Downtown and in
residential areas.
Goal 5. Develop and locate new roads sensitive to historic structures and sites, as well as
natural features.
Goal 6. Provide an integrated system of roads, bikeways, transit lines, and pedestrian paths.
The transportation system should minimize the impact of through traffic.
Comp Plan Goals
Page 3 of 11
Objectives
Maintain the carrying capacity of through streets while minimizing the negative impact on
adjacent residential areas through landscape treatment and street design.
Reduce through traffic impact in residential areas by means of road design and traffic
management.
Work with MnDOT and Washington County to study and improve state highways and county
roads where needed.
Plan new development areas to coordinate with planning for the roads that provide access
to the development sites, i.e., CR 15, CR 12, CR 64, TH 96, TH 36.
Enhance the function, safety and appearance of Stillwater's streets, highways and major
entryways into the City.
Utilize pervious and other green technologies for stormwater treatment associated with
parking lot and street improvements where possible and economically feasible.
Use topography and other site planning methods to minimize the visual presence of parking
lots.
Maintain existing public stairways throughout the community, particularly in the downtown.
Study the use of the railroad line right of way for potential use as a walkway and/or bikeway
connecting downtown to the city areas to the west.
Explore alternative transportation and transit opportunities for Downtown Stillwater.
Comp Plan Goals
Page 4 of 11
Transit
Objectives
Develop pedestrian pathway and bikeway plan to provide for recreational and commuter
trips.
Work with Washington County and the state in developing park and ride lots, trailway
systems and other programs to reduce auto use.
Increase transit ridership and support transit service for transit dependent residents,
particularly senior citizens, provide adequate transit facilities (bus stops, transfer station) to
support transit use, and cooperate with the regional transit authority and Washington County
to provide conveniently located park and ride facilities at major transit stops.
Comp Plan Goals
Page 5 of 11
Natural Resources and Open Spaces
Goals
Goal 1. Create a natural resource open space system that preserves, protects or restores
environmental resources within the City of Stillwater.
Goal 2. Use the natural resource open space system to connect open spaces, parks, activity
centers and neighborhoods.
Goal 3. Protect and enhance the St. Croix River as a natural open space system and
recreation resource.
Goal 4. Provide opportunities for enjoyment of natural resources within all areas of the
community.
Objectives, Policies & Programs
Preserve key scenic roadways, corridors and features and protect the visual beauty and
semirural character of the road sides.
Preserve, protect and/or restore natural features including: ravine areas, shorelands and
blufflands, trees stands and individual heirloom trees, slopes, wetlands and wildlife habitat
areas.
Encourage natural drafting systems to maintain the natural character of ravines and
waterways.
Maintain buffering and visual separation between developed areas and adjacent semirural
areas.
Comp Plan Goals
Page 6 of 11
Community Resources
Goals
Goal 1. Efficiently provide quality city utility services at a reasonable cost.
Goal 2. Make sure there is adequate supply or capacity of service to accommodate future
development.
Goal 3. Develop water resource conservation measures to preserve the Jordan aquifer as
the city's only long-term source of water.
Goal 4. Provide new facilities that meet the needs of Stillwater residents first. Allow other
units of government; school district, Washington County or joint powers groups to serve
broader area-wide populations.
Goal 5. Provide fire and police department facilities to adequately respond to needs within
entire service area.
Comp Plan Goals
Page 7 of 11
Housing
Goals
Goal 1. Provide a quality living environment for the residents of Stillwater by maintaining and
improving the city's existing housing stock and by planning for a range of new housing
opportunities.
Goal 2. Provide a balanced choice of housing types and densities suitable to a wide range
of demographic groups, with a focus on life cycle housing.
Objectives
Residential Character/Housing Conditions
• Adopt housing/historic preservation regulations and performance standards to
maintain the city's existing housing stock.
• Enhance the livability of residential areas through development controls and the
provisions of public facilities and services to meet the needs of the neighborhood.
• Maintain the mix of housing types and tenure in Stillwater's older residential areas.
• Continue to assist the Washington County HRA in the administration of the housing
rehabilitation program to maintain the existing older housing stock, maintain
neighborhood character and the diversity and supply of moderate cost housing.
• Retain the unique and/or historic character of existing residential areas.
• Explore development concepts such as higher density infill, mixed use developments
and cluster housing to maintain open space character and provide a mix of housing
types.
• Preserve Stillwater's desirable small town character by planning residential
development and the establishment of neighborhood character in new areas.
• Designate multifamily housing sites in areas with residential services including the
Downtown area.
Special Housing Needs
• Support the provision of a supply of affordable housing for the elderly, physically and
mentally disabled and others with special housing needs who wish to live in
Stillwater.
• Encourage housing for a range of household income and age levels where local
services are available.
• Work with the Washington County HRA to provide affordable housing for the elderly
and families.
• Encourage market rate rental apartments as an element of mixed use projects in the
Downtown area.
• Locate multifamily and attached housing close to community services and public
parks.
Comp Plan Goals
Page 8 of 11
New Residential Development
• Design local streets, in area plans and through subdivision design, to provide for
neighborhood access and limit through traffic.
• Provide for neighborhood convenience store locations within walking distance of
residential areas without negatively impacting those residential areas.
• Designate residential densities and housing types sensitive to natural resources and
land conditions.
• Use the planned unit development process for reviewing innovative development
concepts and protecting natural resource areas.
• Provide single family, large lot and small lot and attached housing in the annexation
area.
Economic Development
Goals
Goal 1. Increase the tax base and provide opportunities for economic growth for Stillwater
and Stillwater area residents.
Goal 2. Promote and maintain the downtown as a central focus for community economic
and cultural activity.
Comp Plan Goals
Page 9 of 11
Goal 4. Provide new locations for job growth in close proximity to housing and with
convenient access.
Economic Development Sites
Objectives
Support business expansion in the downtown commercial district and West Stillwater
Business Park area.
Provide local incentives to encourage clean light industrial and office development.
Actively promote the creation of the Research and Development (R & D) office park at the
appropriate time along TH 36 east of CR 15.
Cooperate with regional and local economic development organizations to promote the local
economy.
Work with the Stillwater Area Chamber of Commerce to promote local industries.
Tourism
Objectives
Maintain Stillwater's historic, cultural and natural resources, community uniqueness.
Support historic preservation efforts.
Support tourism as a major basic city industry.
Support public improvements and maintenance that enhance the attractiveness of
Downtown.
Comp Plan Goals
Page 10 of 11
Comp Plan Goals
Page 11 of 11