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Scott County comprehensive plan update responds to rapid growth

Three years ago, the fastest growing county in the state invited its residents and landowners to steer the update of its comprehensive plan update. As a result, the draft 2030 plan that Scott County presented for public review in October bypasses many of the obstacles left behind when the county submitted its last plan update in 2001.

At that time, many Scott County residents believed the county would always be what it had been -- one fairly large city (Shakopee), but mostly farms, rural homes and small towns. Several of its township boards and rural landowners disagreed with projections that included a much larger urban area.

That view has changed, said Brad Davis, Planning Manager for Scott County. “Our residents have experienced rapid growth – they understand how quickly things can change – and they understand the need to plan,” he said.

Davis believes rapid growth helped jump-start Scott County’s 2030 plan. “We could never have achieved this level of success in 2001 – even three or four years earlier than this process – without that shared experience,” he said.

Siting future wastewater plant provides impetus

A Metropolitan Council proposal to identify the future site for a post-2030 wastewater treatment plant in Scott County drove officials to look beyond 2030 to ultimate build-out.

“Council staff provided a great deal of assistance determining site requirements and the future service areas,” said Davis. “We realized we had to act now – there might not be suitable land available, especially at an affordable price, if we waited until 2030. If we waited until 2030 to establish development guidelines for system service, it could be impossible to urbanize the areas best suited for service.

“Our partnership with the Council staff was very helpful in developing our Growth Management Strategy,” Davis said.

Residents identify priorities, challenges

Armed with a $125,000 grant from the Council to aid its planning process, Scott County leaders set out to identify areas for “ultimate rural” and “ultimate urban” land uses.

County commissioner Bob Vogel said he was determined to avoid “process mistakes” made in 2001. “We wanted buy-in across the board,” he said. “First we asked everyone to develop a vision -- what we should look like, what should be preserved, what would be our challenges, how we should address them.”  

Vogel said participants told county leaders to focus on “people and places” rather than “maps and things.”

Participants identified three major priorities:

• Preserve magnificent natural features - Woodlands and wetlands should not compete, but should be ranked by the unique character of each feature and its potential for restoration.
• Respect private property owners’ rights – Provide incentive-based programs to achieve county priorities – “fair compensation” is a plan priority.
• Address the future of agriculture – Preserve a farming legacy and “locally grown” produce.

…And three major challenges:

• Plan for growth  – Structure land use to support future regional systems.
• Build the economy – Secure the tax base to support county goals.
• Attract future jobs – Make it possible to live and work in the same community.

 

Plan maps out areas for future urban growth

In response, the County’s plan:

• Maps areas for future urban services – transit, transportation, regional sewers, parks and trails.
• Guides development and adds incentives for flexible, planned-unit developments, allowing developers to add more units if they:
• Cluster houses and leave most of the property dedicated to open space that can be easily converted to urban lots in the future.
• Dedicate land for transit or transportation easements.
• Dedicate identified priority features for perpetual conservation (open space) or use as parks and trails.
• Construct important infrastructure features such as water and wastewater utilities that are designed and engineered to convert to municipal service hook-up at the time of urbanization.

 

Residents react to the plan

At an open house in late October, more than 230 stakeholders reviewed the draft plan. Some, like property owner Larry Mechtel, wanted to know if their lands would be designated for higher density. While disappointed his land was listed at one unit per 40 acres in the 2030 plan, Mechtel expressed some satisfaction with the potential density bonuses. “It’s an improvement,” he said. “We’re long past farming the land.”

Kellie Thompson was pleased that County Road 18 would not become a major arterial. “A lot of people bike near my home, and I wanted to know if traffic would get even busier,” she said. “I think (the commissioners and staff) have done a good job with the plan and helping us to understand it.”

Commissioner Vogel said he is much more satisfied with progress this time around. “The cities and townships didn’t want the county to dictate changes and we met that challenge, Vogel said. “Instead of using the hammer of regulation, we’re using people-driven economics.”

Visit Scott County’s website to see draft maps, electronic copies of presentations, and more information about the plan update process.