What is the Comprehensive Plan?

The Comprehensive Plan is the blueprint for growth and development of the community. The City’s Comprehensive Plan is the officially adopted long-range plan that describes the community’s vision for the future, as well as the City’s long-term goals, policies and implementation strategies. The plan serves as a big picture planning guide for residents, business owners and developers, city staff and elected officials.

Why Update the Plan?

State Law requires that all cities in the seven-county metropolitan area update their comprehensive plans a minimum of every ten years. The update cycle is tied to updates in regional plans by the Metropolitan Council. Inver Grove Heights has until the end of 2008 to submit its comprehensive plan to the Metropolitan Council for review.

Even without this statutory mandate, it is important for Inver Grove Heights to periodically review and update its plans for the future. Over 20 years, it is likely that Inver Grove Heights will develop in some type of fashion. The comprehensive plan will guide these types of developments and address how local and regional systems will service these areas. However, this is only one example of opportunities and challenges that must be considered in updating the Comprehensive Plan.

The Comprehensive Plan Process

The Comprehensive Plan Update is being prepared by HKGi in collaboration with WSB and Associates combining our experience in community planning and engineering with the unique needs of Inver Grove Heights. This collaborative approach enables the City to make the most effective use of the resources available for the Comprehensive Plan update. The following link provides an outline of tasks and a schedule highlighting the planning process.

Time Frame

This update of the Comprehensive Plan looks to the year 2030. Considering a future over 20 years away forces the community to broadly consider issues and opportunities facing Inver Grove Heights (See Planning Context Map). Issues are easier to face before they become a problem. Opportunities cannot be captured if you pass them by.

A comprehensive plan is not only about encouraging the right actions, but also preventing the wrong ones. For example a subdivision in the wrong place may block the expansion of a needed industrial area or the right-of-way for a critical road corridor. Looking into the future helps to prevent unintended consequences.