We Want to Hear from You!
Citizen input is critical to the planning process.
The City of Rice Lake is updating its 2040 Comprehensive Plan. This plan defines the vision, goals and aspirations for the long-term development of the City. The Plan addresses: future land use, housing needs, natural resources, transportation, public and individual utilities, parks and trails, and economic opportunities.
The Planning Commission is holding a public hearing to discuss the plan on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 6:30 PM. Review the Draft Comprehensive Plan here.
What is a Comprehensive Plan?
A comprehensive plan is a long-range planning document intended to identify a community’s vision, goals, and policies to guide future development and public investment. Simply put, a comprehensive plan describes the hopes, dreams and aspirations a community holds for itself. Through public input, a comprehensive plan identifies infrastructure needs, promotes the preservation of natural resources, and guides land use and transportation patterns.
The comprehensive plan will address:
- Land use
- Growth management
- Natural resources
- Transportation
- Infrastructure
- Utilities
- Parks and trails
- Economic development
Why Update the Comprehensive Plan?
Minnesota Statutes, Section 462.351 describes legislative goals for city and township planning:
- Prepare for anticipated change.
- Guide future development of land.
- Ensure a safer, more pleasant and economical environment.
- Preserve agricultural and other open lands. Save money in both private and public expenditures.
- Enable other public and private agencies to plan their activities in harmony with the plan.
- Assist in developing lands more wisely to serve citizens more effectively.
But a comprehensive plan is more than just a document. It is an opportunity to engage the public in local decisions and to allow people with different perspectives to articulate the sort of community they would like to live in and leave behind.
A comprehensive plan creates a framework to make sound decisions that positively affect the City of Rice Lake and provide guidance for the community to reach its’ long-term goals.