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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2040 Chapter 01 - IntroductionCity of Prior Lake Introduction 2040 Comprehensive Plan Page 1 CHAPTER 1, INTRODUCTION 1.1 Purpose of the Plan The Comprehensive Plan is a guide for the development and redevelopment of the City. It is both a reflection of local policy as well as the legal document required by Minnesota Statutes, which requires cities to adopt “land use controls consistent with planned, orderly and staged development and the metropolitan systems plans.” The purpose of the Comprehensive Plan is to express the City’s goals and objectives, to serve as a framework for decision-making and guide to the overall future development of the community. In general, the comprehensive plan contains objectives, policies, standards and programs to guide public and private land use, development, redevelopment and preservation for all lands and waters within the City. The comprehensive plan specifies expected industrial and commercial development, planned population distribution and local public facility capacities upon which the plan is based. Finally, the plan contains a discussion of the use of the public facilities specified in the Metropolitan Systems Statement which is information regarding the City's relationship to the Metropolitan Systems (transportation, transit, airports, sewers, and regional parks). The focal point is the Land Use Plan element; other elements include a Transportation Plan, a Public Utilities Plan, a Park Plan, a Housing Plan, a Water Resource Management Plan, an Economic Competitiveness Plan and an Implementation Plan. The Land Use Plan and Land Use Map recognize the City's natural and man-made features and define the future use of the land. Land use classifications are defined and adopted as the statement of the City's vision for the development of the community. The current version of the plan proposes a framework for development through 2040. It is typical to plan for periods of 10 to 20 years with the understanding that periodic reviews and evaluations will be conducted, resulting in updated plans. A. The Process The preparation of the Comprehensive Plan began in 2016 with Maxfield Research completing a Housing Needs Assessment and Commercial and Industrial Demand Analysis. The studies, commissioned by Scott County, identified the amount of commercial, industrial and high-density residential land the City can reasonably accommodate through 2040. The City then hired several consultants to prepare the technical reports necessary to complete the plan, including the transportation, stormwater, sanitary sewer, water, land use and housing elements. The City conducted a series of public outreach efforts to encourage public participation in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan update process. The public participation process was intended to inform, engage and provide an opportunity to collaborate with all stakeholders. City of Prior Lake Introduction 2040 Comprehensive Plan Page 2 To gather information from the public, an interactive ‘story’ map was developed, an online survey was created and posted on a project specific website. The city and its consultants utilized social media to generate interest and provide information about comprehensive plan meetings. Public Open House events were held and information provided at these events was shared online for those unable to attend. The Prior Lake Planning Commission, City Council and Economic Development Authority held work sessions focused on specific elements of the Comprehensive Plan. City staff conducted ‘pop-up’ meetings, where unlike traditional public meetings, city staff would go to where the public is already gathering such as a community park event and local farmer’s market to provide materials, gather information and answer questions. Following completion of a draft plan, the staff distributed the plan to adjacent municipalities and units of government, including Scott County, the City of Shakopee, City of Savage, Credit River Township, Louisville Township, Sand Creek Township, Spring Lake Township, School District 719 – Prior Lake-Savage, School District 720 – Shakopee, the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District, Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District, Scott County Watershed Management Organization, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, MnDOT, MnDNR and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. The role of communication in both preparing and implementing the Comprehensive Plan cannot be overemphasized. During the preparation of the Comprehensive Plan the City solicited input from the public, adjoining units of government and other governmental agencies. Implementation of the Plan will be done in the same manner, with the focus of educating the public on the purpose and the importance of the plan. 1.2 Community Background A. Location The City of Prior Lake is a developing suburb located in Scott County approximately 24 miles south and west of downtown Minneapolis. In 2018, the City limits encompasse approximately 19.5 square miles. The City of Prior Lake is also unique in that it is home to the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) and Mystic Lake Casino, the second largest Indian Gaming Casino in the nation. The SMSC is the largest employer in Scott County and offer a wide array of opportunities to the public including numerous restaurants, Playworks, Dakotah! Fitness, Dakotah! Ice Center, two casinos and two hotels. B. Natural Features, Parks and Open Spaces Prior Lake has always been viewed as recreational community with a small-town atmosphere. The most predominate features, which make Prior Lake both desirable and challenging for development, are its many lakes and wetlands. Nearly 25 percent of the land area within the City is covered by water. The waterbodies from which Prior Lake takes its name, Upper Prior Lake and Lower Prior Lake, bisect the City from southwest to northeast. Prior Lake is a premier recreational community in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, featuring more than 57 parks on 1,000 acres, over 100 miles of trails and sidewalks, many wooded areas and 14 lakes. Taken together, these areas offer a wide variety of outdoor City of Prior Lake Introduction 2040 Comprehensive Plan Page 3 opportunities for residents with a wide variety of interests. The largest of the public access lakes, Prior Lake, consists of 1,340 acres and is in the center of the City of Prior Lake. The location, size, shape and depth of Prior Lake make it a popular destination for boating, water skiing and fishing. In fact, it is considered one of the busiest lakes in the 7-county metropolitan area. Golfing opportunities abound in the Prior Lake area with the Wild’s, Legends, Heritage Links, Cleary Lake, Meadows at Mystic Lake and Stonebrook Golf Course nearby. Lakefront Park (144 acres), Sand Point Beach Park (20 acres) Memorial Park (12 acres) and Thomas Ryan Memorial Park (38 acres) are the community parks, all of which are heavily used for adult and youth athletics. As development occurs, the City actively pursues additional parkland, either through land dedication or cash dedication. Facilities and amenities include a library, band shelter, pavilion, enclosed picnic shelters, play equipment systems, baseball/softball fields, soccer/football fields, hockey/pleasure skating rinks, basketball/volleyball/tennis courts, horse shoe pits, an archery range, skate park, swimming beaches, sledding hill, fishing piers, boat slips and more than 100 miles of trails and sidewalks. Most of the sites are equipped with benches, picnic tables, grills and appurtenant equipment. The combination of these parks and recreational facilities comprise a complete park and recreation system throughout the City. Two regional parks are located within and adjacent to the City of Prior Lake. Cleary Lake Regional Park is located adjacent to the City limits at the southeast corner of the City. Current recreational facilities include a 145-acre lake, a boat launch for non-motorized boats a golf course, a clubhouse/visitor center, picnic areas, a swimming beach, campsites, and an extensive network of trails, including a lighted cross-country ski trail. Spring Lake Regional Park, located within the City limits on the west side of the City, consists of 385-acres of natural habitat with multiple trail loops and an active off leash pet area. The overall concept plan for this park is to create recreational facilities with access to both Spring Lake and Prior Lake. Proposed future improvements may include a kayak/canoe launch, fishing piers, picnic areas, and lakefront access. C. Public Services The City operates under the Minnesota Statutory Plan B form of government. This form of local governing provides for an elected Mayor and City Council who set local policies and legislative priorities. Management of local affairs is performed by an appointed City Manager who is directly responsible to the Mayor and City Council. The City government operation is divided into several departments: Administration, Finance, Community Development, Public Works and Engineering, Police and Fire. City Hall, the Police Station and the Scott County Prior Lake library are in downtown Prior Lake, just off CSAH 21. The Fire Station No. 1 and the Maintenance Center are in the Waterfront Passage Business Park, on the south side of the City off CSAH 21 and Fire Station No. 2 is located west of CSAH 21 on the north side of the City. 1. Streets The City has approximately 110 miles of City-maintained streets. A typical city street is 32 feet wide bituminous with concrete curb and gutter to catch pollutants before they City of Prior Lake Introduction 2040 Comprehensive Plan Page 4 have a negative impact on the many water bodies located within the community. To help ensure safe travel, the city’s street maintenance program includes annual sweeping, crack sealing and seal coating, snow and ice control, approximately 4 miles of mill and overlay, and approximately 2 miles of street reconstruction annually. Access into and through the community is well served by the city street system and the County and State road networks. 2. Municipal Enterprise Services a. Water System The Water System has approximately 9,800 municipal connections served by two elevated water storage facilities with a combined total of 1,750,000 gallons, one in-ground storage facility with a capacity of 1,500,000 gallons and seven wells that have a capacity to pump 6,050 gallons per minute or 8,712,000 gallons per day. Average demand is 2,500,000 gallons per day while peak demand reaches 7,000,000 gallons per day. To provide for peak demand and a safeguard, the City has interconnects with the City of Savage and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) as well as a water purchaser and facility expansion agreement with the SMSC. Total tap water hardness is 19 grains per gallon. There are approximately 142 miles of watermain. To assure purity, the city’s water is drawn from deep wells and a sample tested daily from one of 26 collection points within the city. In addition, 25 samples are tested monthly by an independent laboratory to ensure compliance with state law. Other testing within the water treatment plant is also done daily. b. Sewer System The Sewer System has approximately 9,800 municipal connections. Sanitary sewer disposal needs are served by the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission with 41 lift stations. Average discharge is 1,400,000 gallons per day while peak discharge reaches 3,200,000 gallons per day. There are approximately 130 miles of sanitary sewer main. The city regularly jets approximately 30 miles of sewer lines per year as a preventative maintenance measure. c. Storm Water System The Storm Water System is a series of natural and manmade drainages, impoundments, and pipes that treat and convey surface runoff. There are approximately 81 miles of stormwater pipe, 153 retention ponds, 80 filtration/infiltration basins, and one underground retention tank to control the flow and provide treatment. In addition, there are strong regulatory mechanisms which the City must comply with to address impaired waters, regulate destruction of wetlands, and general water quality improvement. With 14 lakes and innumerable wetlands, it stands to reason that Prior Lake places a high priority upon clean surface water. D. Public Safety 1. Fire and Rescue/Emergency Department The City currently has a full-time Fire Chief and a 45-member volunteer fire and rescue/emergency department consisting of a 100-foot aerial platform truck, three 1500 GPM pumpers, one tanker, two grass rigs, four utility fire trucks and one heavy City of Prior Lake Introduction 2040 Comprehensive Plan Page 5 rescue emergency vehicle as well as other firefighting and rescue equipment. The fire department operates with two stations. It serves the City as well as two adjacent townships, Credit River and Spring Lake, by agreement. 2. Police Department The City operates its own full-service police department with a Police Chief, one commander, five sergeants, two detectives, twenty officers, one drug taskforce office, and two part-time community service officers. In addition to traditional services, the department offers community-based policing and various crime prevention programs. E. Schools Prior Lake is served by Independent School District No. 719, Prior Lake-Savage and Independent School District No. 720, Shakopee. Independent School District No. 719, Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools is home to six elementary schools, one early childhood center, including Spanish Immersion; a school for gifted learners in grades 3-5; two middle schools for grades 6-8; an Area Learning Center for students in grades 9-12; and a high school serving students in grades 9-12. Combined enrollment at the schools for the 2018/2019 school year is approximately 8,700 students. Projections indicate more than 2,100 additional K-12 students in the next ten years. Independent School District No. 720, Shakopee, operates five elementary schools, a middle school, grade six; two junior high schools, grades seven through nine; and a senior high school, grades ten through twelve. Combined enrollment at the schools for the 2018/2019 school year is approximately 8,000 students. 1.3 2040 Vision and Strategic Plan Strategic planning is important because it helps city leaders plan for the future, informs city priorities and determines the allocation of resources. The City of Prior Lake’s 2040 Vision and Strategic Plan is the road map for the future and tells us how we’ll get there. The components of the plan were developed through robust citizen engagement, including a community survey, to ensure resident input on city priorities. 1. Vision Statement Prior Lake’s Vision Statement, “Prior Lake is a vibrant and welcoming life-long community, offering a high-quality of life and small-town feel” is intended to be aspirational, inspirational, and long-term. 2. Goal Areas The goal areas are purposefully broad to tell us where the city should focus its energy. The objectives are more concrete and define generally what we will do. Neither should change very often to ensure a long-term focus. The city’s work and daily activities should be reflected in this plan and contribute toward the vision. City of Prior Lake Introduction 2040 Comprehensive Plan Page 6 GOAL: HIGH-VALUE CITY SERVICES Objectives:  Establish financial stability for all funds.  Design a comprehensive funding strategy for capital needs.  Ensure sufficient resources and staffing to meet service demands.  Attract, retain and train a high caliber workforce to ensure high-quality services.  Grow collaborations to provide efficient and cost-effective services to the community.  Seek community engagement through a variety of communication methods to reach all residents. GOAL: PUBLIC SAFETY Objectives:  Strengthen collaboration between police and local communities to reduce crime and increase trust.  Enhance partnerships with community and public safety entities.  Promote traffic safety through education, enforcement and engineering.  Ensure a safe and quality-built environment.  Address threats to community standards through code enforcement. GOAL: DESIRABLE & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Objectives:  Intentional land use planning that facilitates commercial development for an expanded tax base.  Preserve and enhance Prior Lake’s small-town feel.  Explore ways to encourage downtown as a vibrant destination.  Encourage development and preservation of quality life-cycle residential housing options.  Create appealing public spaces and transportation corridors to bring people together and foster a sense of place. GOAL: TRANSPORTATION & MOBILITY Objectives:  Maintain quality local street system based on a financially stable plan that meets Overall Condition Index targets.  Promote neighborhood connectivity and safety through development and street reconstruction projects.  Integrate trails to link neighborhoods with city and regional assets.  Support complete street designs that ensure pedestrian mobility and multi- modal transportation options.  Focus on key corridors that take advantage of collaboration with state and county projects. GOAL: ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP & RECREATION Objectives:  Provide clean and safe drinking water for the community and protect drinking water sources.  Protect and enhance the quality of Prior Lake’s surface waters.  Develop recreation opportunities and park amenities for all stages of life and interests. City of Prior Lake Introduction 2040 Comprehensive Plan Page 7  Provide public spaces and amenities that attract the community to our natural environment.  Employ emerging technologies to preserve and protect our natural resources. 1.4 COMMUNITY DEMOGRAPHICS A. Population Characteristics and Trends Prior to 1980, the City of Prior Lake could best be described as a small town, resort community. Between 1980 and 1990, the population of Prior Lake increased by approximately 58 percent, households increased by 68 percent, and employment increased by 75 percent. The City continued to grow and by 2000, the population increased another 21 percent to 15,917. In 2010, the population was 22,796 and will be approaching 27,500 by 2020. Given the current rate of growth and the Metropolitan Council population forecast, the City estimates the population will reach 37,600 by 2040. B. Housing Characteristics and Trends More land area is and will be allocated to housing than any other type of land use in Prior Lake. A community’s perceived quality of life is often strongly connected to the quality of its residential neighborhoods. Housing and economic vitality are also linked because employees need housing and a vibrant customer base. Prior Lake’s housing has been historically centered around its lakes and near the Town Center. As the community has grown, residential development has expanded off the shorelines towards other wetlands or natural environmental features. Prior Lake has approximately 9,586 housing units in Prior Lake, 88% of which are single family and 12% of which are multi-family. Most homes are owner occupied (82%). Over the last ten years, Prior Lake has added about 160 units per year on average. Detached single-family homes continue to be the predominant type of housing in Prior Lake but recent years have seen more multi-family and single family detached homes. City of Prior Lake Introduction 2040 Comprehensive Plan Page 8 A more detailed examination and analysis of the City’s housing trends and projections is included in Chapter 4. C. Employment Characteristics and Trends Employment is the backbone of a healthy and functioning economy. Understanding the dynamics of Prior Lake’s existing and future employment base is essential to maintaining and improving local economic vitality and regional economic competitiveness. Since the 1970’s, the City of Prior Lake has functioned as a traditional ‘bedroom’ suburban community, where many residents commuted to their workplaces in Minneapolis or the greater Metropolitan area. In the last decade, the City has been utilizing a variety of tools to encourage more businesses to locate in Prior Lake. Over the years, employment has increased, especially with the growth of Mystic Lake Casino and Hotel, operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, who is the major employer within the City with 5,000 employees. The top employment industry in Prior Lake is accommodation and food services (40%) followed by public administration (12%) and other services excluding public administration (8%). The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages shows employment in Prior Lake has been very stable since 2000 with a high employment of 8,317 in 2017 and a low employment of 7,766 in 2010. Commercial and industrial development has been increasing in recent years with new commercial building permit valuation reaching $13 million in 2017. City of Prior Lake Introduction 2040 Comprehensive Plan Page 9 D. Commercial and Industrial Development Characteristics and Trends Maxfield Research completed a Commercial and Industrial Demand Analysis for Scott County in 2017. The Maxfield report identified a demand for an additional 887,000 square feet of retail space, 100,433 square feet of additional office space and 468,165 square feet of additional industrial space in Prior Lake between 2015 to 2040. The same study projected 129.9 to 152.5 acres of land will be needed to accommodate this additional 1,455,598 square feet of retail, office and industrial space. 1.5 Plan Contents Minnesota Statutes §473.859 specifies the content guidelines and requirements for comprehensive plans. In general, comprehensive plans contain objectives, policies, standards and programs to guide public and private land use, development, redevelopment and preservation for all lands and waters within the City. The comprehensive plan specifies expected industrial and commercial development, planned population distribution and local public facility capacities upon which the plan is based. Finally, the plan contains a discussion of the use of the public facilities specified in the Metropolitan Systems Statement which is information regarding the City's relationship to the Metropolitan Systems (transportation, transit, airports, sewers, and regional parks). The comprehensive plan includes many elements, including Land Use; Transportation; Water Resources; Parks & Trails; Housing; Resilience; Economic Competitiveness; and Implementation. The Comprehensive Plan is the base upon which the other elements are built; the elements are very interdependent. The Comprehensive Land Use Map may be viewed as the hub of a spoked wheel, with the spokes reaching to the other elements of The Plan. The Public Facilities Plans are critical elements for a developing community, not only because they identify infrastructure improvements needed to support development, but because they identify the relationship with the systems of other jurisdictions including the Metropolitan Council, the State, County and Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.