2008 Shoreview Comprehensive Plan

The Comprehensive Plan was developed with the advice of many of Shoreview's advisory Committees and Commissions. The plan was approved by the Shoreview City Council and the Metropolitian Council.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Comprehensive Plan?

The Comprehensive Plan is the vision for development in Shoreview. Although it is a physical plan, it is a reflection of the community's social and economic values. These values are translated into the type of land use the City desires and programs regarding economic development, housing, parks, transportation and other areas. As a official statement to guide development, redevelopment and preservation of Shoreview, the City Council will use the Comprehensive Plan to adopt zoning standards and classifications for individual areas of Shoreview.

Why does Shoreview have a Comprehensive Plan?

In 1976, the State of Minnesota enacted the Metropolitan Land Planning Act and gave the Metropolitan Council the responsibility to plan for the infrastructure needs of the seven-county metropolitan area. All cities and counties within the seven-county metropolitan area were required to adopt a document called a Comprehensive Plan indicating the programs, physical improvements and development strategies that would be implemented to comply with the regional plan adopted by the Metropolitan Council.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Comprehensive Plan establishes a 20-year policy framework for the City addressing the needs of a maturing community. The Plan is an official document that serves as a policy guide for decision making regarding the development of the community. Although it is a physical plan, it also is a reflection of the City's soical and economic values. These values are translated into the type of land use the City desires and the programs regarding economic development, housing, transportation and other key areas. The plan is also long-range, covering a time period of 20 years.

Guiding Principles

The guiding principles are intended to reflect the goals and values for the community. These principles acknowledge the City's past while planning for and shaping the future. The principles also recognize that the City does not exist in isolation. Changes in the nearby communities and the region will continue to affect the qulaity of life in Shoreview.

Community Profile

Shoreview is north of the Twin Cities. The community is in north central Ramsey County and also borders Anoka County. As the name imples, the City has a variety of lakes, wetlands and waterways that provide aesthetic, environmental and recreational value to the community. The City is well known for preserving the natural environment through proactive plannning, long-range fiscal planning for infrastructure, and the parks and trails system.

Land Use

This section includes a discussion in the existing land use in Shoreview. It looks at planned use for speicific definitions and growth areas. In addition, it includes regional development strategies and land use goals and policies.

Transportation

The transportation system encompasses several modes of transportation, including automobile, bicycle, pedetrian, transit, goods movement by rail or truck and aviation. The plan explores the relationship between transportation and land use, and examines ways in which that relationship could be improved and enhanced.

Economic Development

The City of Shoreview strives to create a healthy business climate by attracting and retaining a diersity of businesses to sustain a strong tax base that provides employment and services to meet the needs of the community. It is essential that the City establish and maintain economic and redevelopment strategies that are continually reviewed and modified to reflect changes in market conditions, service demands, resource allocations and current opportunities. The retention and expansion of the business sector through a proactive economic development program and the redevlopement of targeted areas is important in both short-and long-range planning.

Housing

Housing is affected by a variety of forces including demographic, regional and local traned, the economic climate, the availability of land resources, government controls and the real estate market. One of the key factors in the City's ability to provide such a high quality of life has been the community's strong neighborhoods, which have a diversity of housing styles and types, ownership and rental options and a range of housing costs.

Community and Cultural Resources

Traditional planning has focused on tangible resources such as land and building. Strong communities, however; are more than a collection of streets and buildings. These communities provide places for citizens to interact, learn, pursue common interests and expand their horizons. These resources help citizens learn from and preserve their past history, enhance their present quality of life and prepare for the future.

Community Facility and Services

Community facilities and services include those services that the City provides or has an interest in providing or regulating. These include technology, the sanitary sewer system, water supply system, surfaces water management, waste management and public safety and emergency management. These facilities have played and will continue to play an important role in the City's development and growth.

Technology

Technology is changing every aspect of our lives. Innovations in information and communication technologies are rapidly and profoundly transforming the way we work, do business, govern and communicate.

Sanitary Sewer Plan

This section addresses the effect of the municipal system in the regional system, infiltration and inflow in the municipal system and the timing of the construction on or expansion of the municipal system that might be required to meet the City's anticipated growth.

Water Supply Plan

The policy of the City is to provide safe drinking water at a reasonable cost. The City strives to ensure that the supply is sufficient to meet water-related needs, while employing conservation measures to assure that the use does not have a long-term negative impact on the acquifiers that provide the City's water.

Surface Water Management

This section includes the physical environment of the City in regards to surface water. It also provides specific regulations that the City maintains.

Waste Management

Appropriate solid waste management is important to preserve environmental quality for both current and future City residents. The waste disposal habits of the City's residents and businesses should occur in a manner that protects land, air, water and other resources.

Public Management and Emergency Management

The ability of government to provide a safe environment to work and live contributes to the quality of life for residents. A community that promotes safety retains desirable neighborhoods attracts quality businesses and provides a positive social environment.

Parks and Open Spaces

Parks and Open Spaces are a key asset to the community and contribute to the quality of life residents experience. The parks and open space system is the result of proactive planning by the City, City Council and the Metropolitan Council.

Natural Resources

Natural resources are part of the City's public wealth and should be managed as any other asset. The City is almost fully developed and the focus of environmental protection measures is to provide long-term preservation and management to these public assets.

Resource Conservation

This section identifies existing City policies that promote the use of solar energy and explores other new ways in which the City can encourage new developments to include solar energy.

Intergovernmental Coordination

This section identifies intergovenmental coordination efforts of the City of Shoreview.

Implementation

This section identifies program administration and development, as well as looks at tools, fiscal considerations and monitoring of this plan.

Contact Information

For more information, call Community Devlopment at 651.490.4680.