The Northfield Planning Commission is preparing for what will most likely be a yearlong task of creating the City of Northfield’s next Comprehensive Plan.
The Comprehensive Plan, according to Planning Commission Chair Betsey Buckheit, is the city’s top level policy and vision. Where the city’s Strategic Plan is updated every three years, the Comprehensive Plan is updated every ten to fifteen, and lays out a vision for the next twenty years.
Buckheit said this will be her third Comprehensive Plan, and she is hopeful that, in her role as the Planning Commission Chair, some of that experience will be useful.
“My experience with projects and planning in Northfield is that you learn an awful lot with each one, and usually by the time you’re done with the project you realize all the things you should have done. “So, after two of them I’ve got some idea of the things that I think we should do this time and I hope that’s helpful.”
Buckheit said the plans of the past have all had very similar visions. The idea of centering Northfield around the Downtown area is a key component, as is seeing that Northfield retains its distinctive character.
In the past, plans have focused heavily on business attraction and retention, or housing. This time around, there will be several areas of focus.
Northfield Director of Community Development Jake Reilly said, there will, of course, be quite a bit of attention paid to Downtown Northfield. With all of the high-profile development that has been planned in the next three-to-five years, Downtown Northfield will most likely play an even more prominent role this time. And, Reilly said, there will probably be a specific goal written into the plan.
“We know that from an economic standpoint, if you have approximately 10% or so of your population living downtown, then you create a robust economy. That’s true for cities of all sizes. And that’s how some of these downtown projects play in.”
That sort of density is actually something the city planners would like to develop throughout the city. Part of creating a Comprehensive Plan is finding ways to create a better tax base, and Buckheit said having more people living in all of Northfield’s neighborhoods will be beneficial to everyone.
“We are probably going to be looking for economic sustainability in a mix where there will be single family homes, but there will be some greater density. I don’t mean high rises, but I mean, 4 units, or 6 units. And we’ll look for other things to mix it up and put some more tax value on the land.”
Reilly said expansion of the Industrial community will be a very important aspect of the plan as well. While the city is hoping to develop hundreds of acres in the Northwest section of the city in order to add to the city’s industrial community, Reilly said taking care of the industry that is already in place – Aurora Pharmaceutical, Post, All-Flex, and Cardinal Glass – is every bit as important.
“But we have amazing industry in this city that needs support from folks who can live here to work in those places, but also [from the city and the Planning Commission] to expand. So, we also want to make sure we allow for spaces for those folks to expand and succeed, which will help the rest of the taxpayers.”
As the project is in its early stages, both Reilly and Buckheit spoke about how important community input is to the project as well, and the city will be offering opportunities for Northfielders to give city staff and Planning Commissioners their opinions. Reilly said there will be a “kickoff event” on October 28th, in a venue that has yet to be determined. Details will be well publicized once they are made final.
For more information on the Comprehensive Planning process, and to learn how to get involved, visit the city website at northfieldmn.gov/2045
Main Street Revitalization grants a product of city partnership with Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation has selected 12 Northfield recipients to receive a total of $1.5 million in funds from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Main Street Economic Revitalization Program.
The City of Northfield provided a resolution of support for SMIF’s application to DEED, connected local businesses to SMIF and assisted them through SMIF’s application process.
SMIF selected four recipients during its first round of applications in January and another eight recipients during its second round in March. With final agreements in place, businesses can now start their projects. The grant requires projects to be completed by December 2026.
A Statement released by the City of Northfield said they are very happy to see the money coming into Downtown Northfield. Community Development Director Jake Reilly said the investment in the community from SMIF and the State of Minnesota will help developers and businesses to maintain a charming and effective Downtown area that will remain an attraction to visitors from all across the region.
The recipients of the grants are Imminent Brewing, Tolle Fine Art, Mainstreet Properties, Little Joy Coffee, REO Properties, Burgess Charles PM, Remaking Ventures, Lux MedSpa, Kyoko Properties and Armory Square, Manawa, LLC for the Archer site, Central Block Partners, and The Lander Group.
The grants are intended for capital improvement projects such as new construction, storefront improvements, interior and exterior upgrades, renovations and landscaping in commercial corridors. Grants are being used to support economic recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and other challenges that have arisen since March 15, 2020.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
