01-22-08 Item 1D Comp Plan Update

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It is important to remember that while a Comprehensive Plan is meant to take a long-term look at the cornrnunity, it should not be a static document. The City should work to implement the Comprehensive Plan over time; however, this Plan does not exclude the possibility of exploring new projects, policies, priorities, and strategies down the road if new opportunities or issues arise. Although the Plan is intended to go 2030, all cities in the metropolitan area will review their comprehensive plans again in 2018. City Vision Statement The City's current vision statement is: A strong community that values our unique environment, our fiscal soundness, and our tradition as a desirable city in which to live, work, and play. At the community meetings, there were a number of cornrnents referencing the importance of the City's neighborhoods and the business cornrnunity. Based on those comments, it may be appropriate to make the following minor modifications to the City's overall vision statement in the 2008 Comprehensive Plan: The City of Arden Hills is committed to maintaining a strong community that values our unique environment, our high-quality residential neighborhoods, our vital business community, our fiscal soundness, and our tradition as a desirable City in which to live, work, and play. There is no requirement to revise the existing vision statement. If you have any suggestions or proposed revisions, Staff welcomes your feedback on the proposed changes. Comprehensive Plan Work Plan Based on the Comprehensive Plan work schedule, Staff anticipates completing the first full draft of the plan in late February for Planning Cornrnission and City Council review. After the Council and Cornrnission review, the draft will then go to a public open house in mid to late March for public comments and questions. If everything stays on schedule, the Planning Cornrnission will hold a public hearing ofthe Comprehensive Plan at their April 2, 2008, meeting. The City Council would then likely officially review the Plan at their April 28, 2008, meeting. There is some limited flexibility in the review schedule. All cities in the metropolitan area are required to submit their plans by the end of 2008. However, each city is also required to provide six months of review time to the adjacent cornrnunities, the school district, and the watershed districts. If the draft Arden Hills Comprehensive Plan is adopted in April by the City Council, it would then come back to the City Council after the other public agencies have reviewed the Plan. The Plan is then submitted to the Metropolitan Council for their approval. ' City of Arden Hills City Council Work Session for January 22, 2008 \lMetro-inet.us1ardenhills\PlanningIComprehensive PlanlMemoslO12208 - CC Report - Camp Plan - Vision, Policies, and Strategies. doc Page 3 of4