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Community involvement: Scott County

Some 260 people attended the local workshops, led by visioning facilitator Craig Rapp in March 2006. Participants were asked to “paint a picture” for their 150-year-old county, which is expected to double its population within 25 years.

With their opinions tallied through remote-control voting, residents expressed concerns about five key areas: traffic and congestion, crime rates, tax increases, water quality and preserving natural areas.

Residents also expressed hope that growth will bring opportunities through:

• Better jobs
• More trails and protected open spaces
• Improved roads and transportation

Following the workshops, the county formed a 2030 Vision Advisory Committee with representatives from cities, townships, planning commissions, watershed agencies, school districts, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, and local businesses and developers. The committee met for several months to shape a vision that responded to workshop comments and survey data collected from more than 2,000 county residents.

The resulting document is Scott County’s Draft 2030 Vision & Strategic Challenges. It was unveiled to more than 225 people at a public open house in September 2006. “It was a very successful process,” said Brad Davis, Interim Planning Manager. “Nearly 90 percent of those who attended support the draft vision, and I’m confident we’ll be able to address many of the concerns raised at the open house.”

Davis said the county is developing draft goals, policies, strategies and recommendations for land use, transportation, natural resources, parks, trails, open space, public safety and human services. These recommendations are being developed in accordance with the public’s 2030 Vision. A draft of the county’s comprehensive plan should be available for public review in fall 2007.