By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
At the end of February and into the beginning of March, the City of Northfield conducted a Community Survey to help draft the city’s 3 to 5-year plan. The survey was made by the consulting firm The Raap Group, which the city has hired to advise them on the strategic planning process. The Raap Group worked with City Staff on the questions for the survey. The results of the survey were then presented at this week’s City Council meeting.
The survey was available on the city’s website and collected 653 responses during its opening period. When asked to rate Northfield’s overall quality of life, the average response was 8 of 10. Responses also indicated that many feel safe in Northfield, with 75% of people saying they feel Very Safe and 19% saying they feel somewhat safe.
Craig Raap, the project leader for the city on the survey, stated that the main reasons people love Northfield probably were not surprising:
“What do you love most about living in Northfield? And we give them an open-ended question here and small town atmosphere by a mile. 30% saying that it was the small town atmosphere. A little more than 15% said downtown development and right at 15% the educational institutions again probably not very surprising.” – Craig Raap, the consulting leading the City’s Strategic Planning Process at the 3/11/2025 City Council Meeting
The top concern among survey respondents was related to taxes at 17%, followed by affordable housing at 16%. In that same theme, survey responses indicated that the main development the city should focus on is affordable housing. When asked how affordable people considered housing in Northfield. Only 13% of responses indicated that Northfield was very or somewhat affordable, while nearly 70% stated that housing was either somewhat or very unaffordable. Here’s Northfield City Administrator Ben Martig
“We also see that there’s a very high percentage of people that have more house than they need in the Community that they’re living in, and there’s probably a number of factors of that is, is it well, the cost to buy something different. You know, interest rates are higher than they used to. So somebody does have a mortgage, you know, selling your home and then paying a higher interest.” – Ben Martig, Northfield City Administrator on the KYMN Morning Show
When asked about the quality of city services, 61% of respondents stated that they were satisfied or very satisfied with them. Survey responses also indicated that the main focus for the city for transportation projects should be road repairs and public transportation options.
Raap stated that the survey was not the only feedback they have been collecting. They have also been listening to the different city boards and commissions and hosting focus groups. The next step in the city’s strategic planning is a retreat in April, at which the council sets the plan’s goals.
See the full report here:
Newscasts on KYMN air on weekdays at 6am, 7am, 8:30am, Noon, 3pm, and 5pm. If you miss it live, you can subscribe on your preferred podcast app:
> Click here to listen on Spotify
> Click here to listen on Apple Podcast
Do you have a news tip or press release? Send it to us email: Logan@kymnradio.net
