Posted: 12/26/06
Cityís comprehensive plan nears completion
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
Almost one year ago, the City of Caledonia approved the creation of a comprehensive plan to guide future development in the city.
David Drown Associates of Minneapolis was hired to develop the plan at a cost of $22,500 plus expenses. In addition, Davy Engineering was hired to create maps of the city to assist in land-use planning.
The last time a comprehensive plan was developed was 1980.
A draft of the comprehensive plan was recently presented to the council. It represents the work of the council and a group of citizen who met monthly to share their ideas about the future of Caledonia. The process was guided by Shannon Sweeney of David Drown.
Goals identified
The committee and council set a number of goals and identified means to achieve those goals.
The first goal is to promote the implementation of a city/regional bike trail system, and to budget annually for the implementation of such a plan.
The second goal is to maximize the cityís potential to pursue high-quality economic development opportunities. Policies and initiatives include attracting new businesses and retaining and expanding existing businesses, using business subsidies where appropriate. Also included were plans to support revitalization of the downtown area and preservation of its historical character.
Plans are also to focus development in areas identified for that purpose.
The third goal is to promote a variety of housing types in the city, and to discourage concentration of certain types of housing (such as subsidized housing) in one area.
The fourth goal is to expand recreational opportunities for residents of all ages; and the fifth is to lend support to the local schools.
Addressing nuisance issues is goal number 6. Included is a plan to adopt a new nuisance ordinance that will establish procedures to address nuisance issues and to take steps to avoid incompatible uses of land within the city, offering financial incentives for businesses to relocate if necessary.
The seventh goal identified by the group is to plan for future infrastructure improvements by purchasing or reserving land for that purpose. It includes a provision for the city to monitor the progress of the sidewalk program and provide for repair, installation and replacement of sidewalks in the city.
Goal number eight calls for strengthening the distinction between urban and rural countryside with well-planned and coordinated services. One of the initiatives was to ìpromote the annexation of abutting property in an orderly manner when it is necessary for development.î
Other goals identified were: to create a high quality living environment in all neighborhoods; to achieve equitable distribution of the cost of providing city services; provide an adequate and safe transportation system; maintain a safe and efficient street system and to protect, conserve and enhance the natural resources of environmentally sensitive areas in and adjacent to the city.
Township concerns
Several items in the plan concerned residents of Caledonia and Mayville Township.
On December 7, about 25 people gathered in the city council chambers for a special meeting on the comprehensive plan. The meeting had been requested by Kermit McRae, chairman of Caledonia Township.
ìGoal #8 as currently stated comes across as a policy of annexatin, which is not acceptable to the township.î McRae wrote in a letter to the city.
The letter also noted that other items in the cityís draft plan would depend on cooperation from the townships ìto avoid further conflict.î
Those include the establishment of the buffer zone, expansion of the bike trail system, and the control of storn water run-off, which was part of Goal #7, planning for infrastructure improvements.
Tom Sawle, who attended the meeting of December 7, told the council that he was appearing as a representative of Ma Cal Grove Country Club, and noted that property at the club was damaged due to storm water run-off, and that the city was not willing to reimburse the club for its losses.
In regard to annexation issues, Shannon Sweeney of David Drown Associates explained that the city had no annexation plans, and that the reference was made to specify that no city utilities would be extended beyond the corporate limits of the city, unless those areas were annexed.
McRae suggested that the ìthreatening languageî of the draft plan be modified, and that interested parties be given the opportunity to provide input.
Mayor Morey responded that the language was not meant to be threatening, and agreed to further meetings to address any issues that may be of concern.
The council had been scheduled to approve the comprehensive plan at its December 11 meeting, but has postponed final approval until the issues have been resolved.
A meeting has been set for Thursday, January 11 at 7 p.m. in the commissionerís room of the Houston County Courthouse.
Demographic trends in the city
As part of the process, trends in demographics were identified to guide the planning process. Using 2000 census data, the study found that overall population has increased by four percent since 1990. The largest increases were in the age groups of 10 to 19 years (35 percent) and 35 to 59 years (23 percent). Decreases were noted in ages under five years (down 30 percent) and 20 to 34 years (down 14 percent). In 2000, the median age was 40.
Housing values in the city have increased substantially since 1990, when the median value for a home was $45,500. In 2000 it was $73,400, an increase of 61 percent. Median household income in 1999 was $32,455. Almost three-quarters of the households have incomes of under $50,000 (73 percent).
Copies of the plan are available at the city clerkís office in city hall.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com