APA Minnesota Spotlight Community

Spotlight Community
Belle Plaine, MN

APA Minnesota Spotlight on Minnesota
Belle Plaine
Trisha Rosenfeld, Community Development Director

What is the greatest part of your job? How long have you been with the City of Belle Plaine?
The greatest part of my job is knowing that every day there is always something new and interesting that will present itself.

I have been with the City of Belle Plaine for four years this October.

How has the economic downturn impacted the City of Belle Plaine?
The economic downturn has impacted the City of Belle Plaine particularly in the housing market. We experienced a large growth spurt in the early part of the decade. As we all know it has tapered off substantially over the past several years. However, Belle Plaine has been fortunate to experience commercial growth over the past couple years complimenting the residential growth that occurred.

What is Belle Plaine's most significant planning and/design issue? How are you dealing with them?
One of the most significant design issues Belle Plaine experiences is the US Trunk Highway 169 corridor that attempts to divide the community. We currently have one interchange that connects the two parts of the community to the north, and are determined to procure a second overpass or interchange on the southern end of the community. The City of Belle Plaine is committed to the connectivity and cohesiveness of the community.

What is a unique fact or characteristic about Belle Plaine?
Belle Plaine has an historical two-story outhouse!

Past Spotlight Cities

Gaylord, MN
July 2010

APA Minnesota Spotlight on Minnesota
Gaylord
Kevin McCann, City Administrator

What is the greatest part of your job? How long have you been with the City of Gaylord?
The greatest part of my job is the variety of projects I work on and the great people I interact with. I am always working on something different and meeting great people along the way. I have been in the City of Gaylord since January of 2008.

How has the economic downturn impacted the City of Gaylord?
There was a housing development of 26 units that fell through. There has been a couple of business closings. There has also been good news. There is a newly remodeled $9 million dollar nursing home, assisted living, senior apartments, and memory loss facilty. There is also a new strip mall in town. There is also many businesses looking at revitalizing their home or business with the latest green technology.

What is Gaylord's most significant planning and/design issue? How are you dealing with them?
The most significant planning issue is the outdated ordinances we are following. They are from the early 90s and do not address the issues of today. We are starting to identify the issues that keep coming up and will be addressing these through ordnance changes.

What is a unique fact or characteristic about Gaylord?
Gaylord is known as The Hub of Sibley County and has three highways, Hwy 5, Hwy 19, and Hwy 22, that intersect in town. The City is currently in the design phase of a new $2.75 million aquatic center.

Minnetonka, MN
June 2010

APA Minnesota Spotlight on Minnesota
Minnetonka
Julie Wischnack, AICP Community Development Director

What is the greatest part of your job? How long have you been with the City of Minnetonka?
The greatest part of my job is trying to help people solve problems, whether that involves co-workers, residents or applicants. The bottom line at any city should be, how can I help you and if I can't accommodate someone's request what may be the next best thing and the process for figuring that out is extremely satisfying. I have been with Minnetonka since 2006.

How has the economic downturn impacted the City of Minnetonka?
We have definitely experienced a downturn in the amount of permitting within the city; which in turn caused a need to reduce our employees in community development and partner with other cities to get the work done. The amount of residential development has definitely slowed, but there are some projects on the horizon that are very positive for the community. United Health Group will be starting their 350,000 square foot expansion this fall and we hope that a 150 unit senior building will be underway soon. There are other various projects for smaller residential subdivisions.

What is Minnetonka's most significant planning and/design issue? How are you dealing with them?
I think the most significant planning and design issue for Minnetonka is with respect to light rail. While the construction of the rail is a number of years off, it certainly is important to set the stage and prepare for the type of development that supports light rail. This type of development does not occur very often in Minnetonka and therefore, we are embarking on amending ordinances and plans that outline and provide principles by which redevelopment occurs. While design of redevelopment is important, a secondary issue is an existing suburb has challenges in making good connections to existing neighborhoods. We are looking forward to this very difficult, yet exciting addition to our transportation network.

What is a unique fact or characteristic about Minnetonka?
Minnetonka is a very young city, incorporating in 1956. Prior to its incorporation, it was the scene of numerous annexations to surrounding communities and in the end, 2,300 voting members of the public created the village of Minnetonka.

Winona County, MN
MAY 2010

APA Minnesota Spotlight on Minnesota
Winona County
Brian Bender, AICP Planning

What is the greatest part of your job?
The greatest part of my job as the Winona County Planning Director is the opportunity to conceive and implement a range of programs intended to accomplish the objectives of the Department. Principally, these consist of assisting the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, and County Board to maintain and implement the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Water Management Plan, and all associated ordinances and regulations. I also enjoy working with public officials of small municipalities and townships regarding their planning and zoning questions.

How long have you been with Winona County?
I been with the County for three and half years and arrived here after being the Planner for the Village of Bensenville (Illinois), and stints as both the Zoning Administrator and the Director of the Clinton County Area Plan Commission (Indiana).

How has the economic downturn impacted Winona County?
The economic downturn has obviously slowed down building activities throughout the County as demonstrated by the reduction of permit requests. Regarding the agricultural sector, dairy farmers have also ceased making large investments in their facilities as financial intuitions tighten lending policies. Before the downturn, the County experienced several multi-million dairy expansions, however; until milk prices increase and operating expenses decrease, farmers are reluctant to make any large-scale commitments. For the Planning Department, although not facing drastic budget cuts, staff is undertaking the challenge of raising efficiencies and finding ways to sustain existing service levels to residents.

What is Winona County's most significant planning and design issue?
Winona County is attempting to find the right balance between the need to accommodate low-density residential development while at the same time not endangering the vitality of its agricultural and natural resource lands. The Planning Department is helping the County Board to review a revised Zoning Ordinance with new provisions relating to residential densities in agricultural areas, the protection of bluffs, renewable energy development, and livestock feedlots. The County Board is also seeking the advice and input from several interest groups active in the County as a means to ensure the Ordinance effectively achieves its intended purposes.

What is a unique fact or characteristic about Winona County?
Winona County lying in the western edge of the Driftless Area of the Mississippi River Valley, has a diversity of landscapes ranging from bluffs towering over the Mississippi River, narrow wooded valleys, to continuous stretches of prime farmland. This diversity offers residents with an outstanding quality of life with convenient access to Whitewater State Park, a vibrant local foods scene, and unique cultural amenities. Unquestionably, this diversity makes being the Planning Director both exciting and demanding.

Roseau, MN
MAY 2010

APA Minnesota Spotlight on Minnesota
City of Roseau
Todd Peterson, Roseau Community Development Coordinator

What is the greatest part of your job? How long have you been with the City of Roseau?
I have worked for the City of Roseau since 1996 (14 years in August). In that time I have been City Planner, Flood Recovery Coordinator and finally Community Development Coordinator for the city. I was Roseau's first City Planner. Community development in a small community (2,700) is quite different than in larger fast-growing communities. Projects must be developed in slower more incrimental steps. However, in 2002 the City of Roseau was devistated with a greater than 500 year flood event that required the rebuilding of the majority of the town. Over $100 million in public and private investments were made to rebuild the community. As a result I was able to participate in a 5 year redevelopment plan like most small town planners never witness in a lifetime. Our community continues to work on future developments and keeping the community growing and vibrant.

How has the economic downturn impacted the City of Roseau?
The economic downturn has had an impact on our community, particularly our small commercial district. Continuing pressures of lower wages, unemployment and big box retailers in larger surrounding regional centers have taken their toll on our downtown district leaving a number of vacant storefronts. Recently our industrial sector (Polaris Industries) has begun to shift back to higher production. Our hope is that this resurgence will bring confidence back to others who will again look at other business opportunities on our community.

What is Roseau most significant planning and/design issue? How are you dealing with them?
It is alway a delicate balancing act to do significant planning and design in small towns as you must weigh the value of good design with the economic realities of needed any and all development possible to keep your community vibrant and growing. However, the leaders of Roseau have always had high expectations for development and property maintenance and that helps drive good development and respect for doing development the right way.

What is a unique fact or characteristic about Roseau?
Roseau is a very special community. It is a very small town (2,700) that supports a very large population (up to 7,000+) for employment, health services, retail, recreation, education, and government. As a result the community has to be very creative and proactive in its design and delivery of services. Cooperation is vital given our relative isolation. The City works hard to foster creative solutions with private industry and other agencies to provide excellent services and a great quality of life. This is probably what makes Roseau the hockey capital of Minnesota.