On Tuesday night during their work session, the Northfield City Council received an update on the progress being made on the city’s next Comprehensive Plan from the Chair of the Northfield Planning Commission Betsey Buckheit.
Buckheit told the Council that the process is moving from the data gathering phase to data analysis.
Throughout the process, which began last summer, the Planning Commission and others working on the plan have asked for and received public input at every step. They have taken it to every other city board and commission, and they have taken it to community groups like Rotary and Age Friendly Northfield. They have solicited opinions in order to formulate a vision. City Administrator Ben Martig said the public engagement revealed a theme that was not very surprising.
“The public engagement work that was done really provided feedback that we, as a community, really know what we are and what we want to be. We want a small town feel with a healthy, engaged community. Environmental values showed up as being important as well.”
One of the key goals for the new plan is to offer guidance for real managed growth within the city limits. Things have progressed to the point where the planners are now looking at Northfield as a whole and evaluating where more investment should go, where the best return on investment would be, and what parts of the city have been underutilized. Martig used the development of the Wings Financial building in the Target parking lot as an area that could be an example for smart growth.
“The city has rules, codes and requirements for how commercial development can happen and maybe ways we can encourage it. That would maybe be an example of intensification and maybe there are other areas like that which could see greater use of some underutilized infill sites. Infrastructure can be really expensive, so if we want to try and grow our tax base, that might be a strategy.”
Martig said that, while the Comprehensive Plan is not a direct and detailed document with explicit instructions, it is a document with which the city must always be in compliance. All of the city’s public projects have their basis in the Comprehensive Plan, he said, and he encouraged the public to take more interest in the process.
The city has a page on its website that is dedicated specifically to the Comprehensive Plan, which is one of the easiest ways to keep abreast of the work being done. The page can be found by visiting northfieldmn.gov.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with City Administrator Ben Martig can be heard here
Two-hour high school tour offered to help voters understand the issue
The Northfield School District is offering another tour of the high school facility on Saturday.
Northfield Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann is heading up a campaign that will offer as much information as district voters would like to have regarding the referendum that will be on the ballot in November asking voters to approve a massive remodeling and renovation of Northfield High School, the reasons behind it, the costs, the individual tax impact, and anything else they might question.
The tour of Northfield High School is set for this Saturday at 9am and should run for about two hours. Hillmann said attendees should come to Door #10 at the high school. The tour will begin in the media center with a presentation, followed by the guided tour, and a time for questions.
Hillmann said it is important that people see and feel the problems with the building firsthand to truly understand why the renovations are necessary. For more information visit northfieldschools.org/reimagine.
Library workshop for homeowners, and preservation enthusiasts
The City of Northfield has announced that the Northfield Public Library will host a free, hands-on workshop next month where attendees will learn to repair and restore old windows
Historic preservation expert and window aficionado Erin Hanafin Berg will explain common wood window issues and demonstrate basic repairs. This class will focus specifically on glazing, paint preparation, and painting. Those attending are encouraged to bring a window from home, but practice sashes will be available to use as well. A statement issued by the City of Northfield said the workshop is designed for homeowners and property owners who plan to restore and repair their old windows and for those who care about building sustainability and preservation.
The statement said the workshop is being presented by the education program at Rethos, a Minnesota-based Historic Preservation non-profit organization, and through funding from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s GreenStep Cities program. The Rethos Education program is also funded in part by the Arts & Cultural Legacy Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society.
The workshop is being presented through the philosophies laid out in two of the city’s strategic goals. One is supporting and maintaining a community that is resilient and sustainable. The other is improving housing quality throughout the city.
Attendance at the workshop is free of charge, but, as space is limited, registration is required. The workshop is scheduled for Saturday, June 8th from 10am to 1 pm at the Northfield Public Library.
Plant Sale is top fundraiser for Master Gardeners
And, coming on the heels of their annual tree giveaway just a few weeks ago, the Rice County Master Gardener volunteers will hold their annual Plant Sale on Saturday at the 4-H building on the Rice County Fairgrounds in Faribault.
The sale is one of the most important fundraisers of the year for the Rice County Master Gardeners program. A statement issued by the county said the funds raised will stay in the local area and help bring more gardening programming to local residents.
Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer all gardening questions.
The sale is set to run on Saturday from 9am – 2pm, or until all of the plants have been sold.
KYMN Daily News 5/16/24
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
