6. Scandia PC Comp Plan presentationThe Comprehensive Plan
Scandia Planning Commission
February 2, 2021
What is a Comprehensive Plan?
A planning document that defines visions, goals, and aspirations for the long-
term development of a community
The comp plan adopted by a city guides local officials (staff, Planning
Commission members, City Council) in decisions regarding land use
The goals in the comp plan guide development and/or redevelopment
Policies in the comp plan identify ways for the city to achieve said goals
Comp plans provide a reasonable and rational basis for the land use decisions
made by a city
A zoning ordinance and subdivision ordinance are tools a city can use to achieve
the goals identified in the plan
These ordinances are to be in-line with, and not contradict, the Comp plan
Mandatory for cities in the metro area per the Metropolitan Land Planning Act
Cities in the metro area have their plans reviewed by the Metropolitan
Council
What is in the Scandia 2040 Comprehensive
Plan?
Vision Statement
Scandia is known for its distinctive character and history. The City’s overall vision is to maintain its rural character typified by the agricultural heritage and natural resources. In 2040, Scandia has an economically vibrant village center, which is home to a diverse population that is surrounded by mix of natural resource and agricultural areas intermixed with rural residential and lakeshore neighborhoods. As new development is proposed, the emphasis will remain on the protection of rural, agricultural and natural resources.
Overarching Goals
Maintain and promote the City’s cultural character and history
Maintain and promote a variety of land uses and residential densities while maintaining Scandia’s existing agricultural and rural character
Preserve and protect the City’s natural resources
Provide economic opportunities for residents and businesses
Action Plan
Worksheets to guide implementation of the goals
Specific Goals & Policies
Land Use
Preserve the rural, agricultural character of Scandia through zoning regulations,
ordinances, and site design standards
Conduct development in a manner that is sensitive to the impact upon natural features and to
environmental constraints, including but not limited to scenic views, surface water, wetlands,
slopes, woodlands, vegetation, drainage ways, shorelands, and flood plain areas.
Coordinate with property owners, other governmental units and agencies, and developers to
protect high quality natural areas and historic resources
Encourage low-impact development techniques in new developments.
Explore programs and development concepts that encourage creative methods to preserve rural
character and natural resources.
Achieve compatible relationships between different types of land uses by utilizing design
standards, appropriate buffers, land use transitions and high-quality design
Manage land use to prevent the premature demand for extension of urban services and
in ways that allow existing service levels to meet service needs
Require that land proposed for development is served or will be able to be served with adequate
infrastructure, including sewage treatment systems, streets, and storm water management
systems.
Require all new development be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan
Land Use (continued)
Ensure a variety of lot sizes to create affordable development opportunities to best
meet the needs of residents and businesses in Scandia
Encourage greater density where appropriate to preserve natural features and areas.
Ensure suitable land is available for potential commercial and industrial employment and
business opportunities.
Ensure agricultural uses are part of the community as a viable long -term land use
Encourage a variety of agricultural operations, including small-scale metropolitan
orientated agriculture, value-added production, and small scale agricultural-related
commercial uses.
Encourage participation in the Agricultural Preserves Program through compatible zoning
districts and educational materials and resources.
Review current development regulations to allow compatible secondary uses such as low
density residential, commercial recreation, and agriculture-related commercial in areas
where agriculture is the predominant use.
Allow for the safe and orderly extraction of aggregate resources now and in the
future while protecting sensitive resources on or near those properties and
providing for transitions to other uses when resource extraction is complete
Implement performance standards for the management of existing mining operations in
order to minimize or prevent negative impacts to resources and nearby land uses.
Housing
Support a variety of housing types and densities for residential uses in and
surrounding the Village Center and other areas where appropriate
Encourage residential development in areas where sufficient infrastructure capacity can
be provided.
Offer density bonuses for development providing senior housing, lifecycle housing, or work
with property owners on the transfer of development rights.
Expand life-cycle housing opportunities for residents at all points of life
Encourage residential buildings to be designed for accessibility in order to meet the needs
of current and future owners.
Continue to work with the Washington County Community Development Agency to identify
opportunities for providing additional affordable senior housing in the Village Center.
Encourage a range of housing choices that fit with the character of the community
Review current development ordinance for districts to allow smaller lot sizes or higher
densities while respecting the rural character and land uses.
Encourage Open-Space Cluster housing development and Lot Averaging development.
Continue to monitor the general condition of the housing stock, with a special focus on
the physical condition of the older housing.
Housing (continued)
Economic Competitiveness
Concentrate on retaining and expanding local businesses in and around the Village
Center and existing Rural Commercial districts
Strengthen public services to attract and retain businesses and workforce.
Identify and allow in-fill development opportunities for business expansion.
Promote appropriately sized new businesses that create synergy with existing businesses
and overarching goals.
Use outreach/branding initiatives to retain businesses and employment in Scandia.
Cooperate with businesses, educational institutions, community organizations, and
government to provide information to local businesses.
Create development and land use standards to guide development into the Village Center
and away from a linear pattern along the highways or undeveloped rural intersections.
Encourage businesses providing local services, as well as tourism and recreation businesses
in the Village Center.
Work with building owners to maintain and upgrade building facades and properties
consistent with the Village Center’s small town image and historic character.
Encourage public and private investment in community-oriented institutions including the
community center and city hall, church, cemeteries, and Gammelgarden.
Economic Competitiveness (continued)
Actively support the retention and expansion of Scandia community -scale
agricultural operations
Work cooperatively with other governmental agencies and community groups to develop
programs to help keep agricultural land affordable in Scandia.
Update ordinances and regulations to facilitate growth of small-scale agricultural uses.
Encourage home-based entrepreneurs and businesses
Identify opportunities to encourage home-based businesses to transition to a storefront
when its market is adequately developed.
Review standards to support home occupations while ensuring compatibility with
surrounding land uses.
Expand access to internet services throughout the entire City
Encourage internet providers to expand service areas and bandwidth throughout the City.
Explore potential opportunities for public investment or grants to expand internet
capabilities.
As development or redevelopment occurs, support the addition of infrastructure that will
enable expansion of internet technology.
Water Resources
Preserve and protect the quantity and quality of surface water and groundwater
Work cooperatively with all State and Federal agencies to comply with and enforce regulations
and standards such as Shoreland Management Regulations, Erosion and Sediment Control
Standards, Floodplain Regulations, and Stormwater management.
Identify sensitive groundwater recharge areas and groundwater dependent natural resources to
guide development and land use to minimize potential contamination and incompatible uses.
Require developers to restore the ability of soils to absorb, retain, and infiltrate water following
site development.
Improve stormwater management and land stewardship practices
Provide educational resources and materials to residents and businesses regarding water quality,
stormwater runoff, best management practices, and impaired waters.
Incorporate low-impact techniques and best management practices on City owned property.
Protect the natural and scenic resources of the St. Croix River Corridor, both within and
adjacent to the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway
Work cooperatively with the National Park Service, Department of Natural Resources, and
Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District and adopt their Local Water Management Plans.
Ensure financial and environmental accountability for installation, maintenance,
remediation, and management of any permitted private wastewater system
In cooperation with Washington County, enforce strict conformance with regulations for the
design, installation, and maintenance of on-site treatment systems including minimum design,
licensing, and installation requirements of the Minnesota Rules Chapter 7080.
Natural Resources
Protect natural resources and look for opportunities to connect large areas of open space
Coordinate with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Washington County on plans for the long-term acquisition and development of William O’Brien State Park and Big Marine Park Reserve.
Prioritize the preservation and treatment of open space in planning and review of all types of development within the City.
Preserve high quality natural areas
Work with property owners seeking to utilize Transfer of Development Rights and Purchase of Development Rights, as appropriate, to obtain and protect high quality natural areas while compensating landowners who give up development rights to meet community land use and natural resource goals.
Eliminate, reduce or mitigate the negative effects of invasive species on natural areas
Provide educational resources and materials to residents and businesses regarding invasive species.
Recognize and enhance publicly owned lands and improve public access to such lands where appropriate
Promote preservation and restoration of publicly owned and other lands permanently protected from development through education and cooperation with other governmental agencies and community groups.
Improve designated physical access to the St. Croix River corridor and other important or high quality natural areas where public lands may provide access opportunities while preserving natural and historical integrity.
Encourage for the preservation and establishment of scenic views throughout the City
Work with property owners to protect and preserve native, endangered, threatened and unique plants and animals on privately owned land
Provide educational resources and materials to residents and businesses regarding invasive species.
Encourage connections to high quality natural areas through natural corridors on private land in order to allow for wildlife movement among habitats as part of Development.
Parks & Trails (derived from 2006 Parks Plan)
Develop an effective planning approach to developing and maintaining parks and recreation areas and constructing and maintaining trails and routes to meet the needs of City residents
Design and locate parks, recreation facilities, trails, and routes in a manner that best meet their purpose and the needs of City residents.
Develop a close working relationship with other agencies and groups to enhance the parks and recreation facilities and develop trails and routes in the City
Continue to work closely with Washington County, the Metropolitan Council, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on more detailed planning efforts to insure the regional green infrastructure system is designed in a manner compatible with existing and planned development in the City.
Coordinate with local park and trail interest groups in development, implementation, operation, and maintenance of projects.
Promote volunteerism to enhance community ownership and stewardship of parks, trails, recreation programs, and services
Promote Scandia’s rural and recreational assets to encourage tourism.
Support a network of parks and trails to provide community-wide connections to serve the health and welfare of the City’s residents.
Emphasize the importance of making connections to regional trails, including the Gateway Trail, the Immigrant Trail, and the Hardwood Trail.
Promote trail connection between Big Marine Park Reserve and William O’Brien State Park (Glacial Hills Regional Trail).
Use park search areas and recreational facilities search areas and other natural resource information to guide and encourage park acquisition donations and potential site acquisitions when property becomes available
Evaluate property located in park and/or recreational facility search areas for purchase, lease, or easement to augment the existing Park System, if and when it becomes available.
Transportation
As new development or redevelopment occurs, provide an integrated, internally connected, efficient street system connecting village and higher density neighborhoods to the Village Center
Discourage the creation of permanently long streets with only a single access point (i.e., dead-end streets, looping streets and elongated cul-de-sacs).
Encourage design and land uses that support a range of transportation choices
Guide future development to roadways capable of accommodating resulting traffic.
Develop roadways and street systems with consideration for safety, speeds, congestion,
impact and noise pollution.
Establish context-sensitive roadway design standards
that will protect the narrow and heavily wooded character of identified low-traffic roadways
Protect scenic rural roads, viewpoints and vistas identified through the planning process from visually intrusive or incompatible development.
Maintain Scandia’s system of local roadways that is well coordinated with MN DOT and Washington County Roadways
Develop a capital improvement program to ensure adequate funding for priority roadway concerns.
Cooperate with County and State jurisdictions to keep through-traffic on arterials at minimum disruption of local circulation and residents.
Through the subdivision review process for new developments, require that MN DOT and Washington County access management guidelines be met for roadways under the jurisdiction of those agencies, respectively.
Encourage the use of non-automotive modes of transportation
Use roadway design to establish bike and pedestrian friendly streets and compliment recreational trails.
Support the development of regional and local transit options
Support efforts to provide more efficient delivery of dial-a-ride services for Scandia residents, including but not limited to efforts to utilize the Village Center as a focus of service.
Preserve the safety of regional air traffic
Notify MN DOT Aeronautics of any structure of a height of 200 feet above the ground.
Address federal and state safety standards when planning the design of any object related to or affecting navigable airspace.
Resilience
Encourage the use of renewable, local and diverse forms of energy in order to
increase use of local resources, mitigate the local risk from fossil fuel scarcity and
price increases, and help meet Minnesota’s climate protection goals
Encourage the use of alternative renewable heating fuels as biomass while establishing
standards to limit nuisances associated with such systems.
Encourage the use of alternative fuels and alternative means of transportation for City
residents and businesses.
Encourage energy efficient housing that exceeds the minimum efficiency levels
required in the State building codes
Protect solar access for homes and businesses.
Promote the use of renewable energy systems on housing and in areas where such systems
can be safely operated and produce a minimum level of visual impact.
Review the goals of the Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program. Implement GreenStep
Cities Best Practices as appropriate.