4.6. SR 09-21-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Community-based planning in Minnesota Community-based plannin~ is a local planning process that provides state assistance to communities as they address growth and other challenges. Many Minnesota communities do not have up-to-date local plans to guide decisions about development, land use, transportation and environmental impact. Until 1997, state law provided little guidance for local plans -- what they should cover, what approaches might best meet local and state needs, or how to deal with regional issues that spill over local boundaries. Nor had the state provided funding in the past 15 years to help with local comprehensive planning. A 1997 law called the Community-Based Planning Act sets forth a new framework intended to integrate sustainable development principles into local comprehensive plans. The new law stresses the need to plan for growth. Different ways of handling growth have very different results for the environment, the cost of providing public services, and the character of a community. The act also provides financial and technical assistance for local planning. Minnesota Planning, a state agency, administers this assistance. Minnesota Planning will review and comment on plans prepared by counties and joint planning districts, including the plans prepared by cities and towns that are incorporated into those plans. Planning is voluntary Minnesota communities can choose whether or not to take advantage of the new planning process and the state's offer of financial and technical support. Although participation is voluntary, once a plan is established, the local governments must follow through on it. Future decisions and ordinances must be consistent with the plan. Statewide Doals for local planninD The 1997 taw lays out 11 goals for community-based plans. These goals address the long-term interests of the state in responding to growth and change. The goals cover the following topics: · Broad citizen participation in the planning process · Cooperation among neighboring communities · Sustainable development -- that is, economic development that assures environmental and community well-being · Conservation of natural resources and other state assets · Community design that uses "livable community" principles · Good, affordable housing for people at all stages of life · Transportation that focuses on moving people and goods, not just automobiles · Land use decisions that are based on a publicly supported plan · Accounting for the full environmental, social and economic costs of new development · Increased public awareness of the need to carefully plan for growth · Improving life for all community members today while preserving the ability of future generations to do the same