The Red Wing, Minnesota Comprehensive Plan completed by Hoisington Koegler Group in 2007 is recognized as a model planning effort with sustainability directives seen as "game changing." The plan is formulated around the notion that community vitality is dependent on livability factors such as green infrastructure, walkability, transportation alternatives, social interactions, and cultural destinations. The plan flips on its head the normal practice of building a comprehensive plan around anticipated community growth and instead determines key amenities to preserve as a framework within which growth will occur. As part of the plan, HKGi conducted a walkability audit to determine how walkable to community actually is (with some striking results). In this regard, plan directives will cause future development and infrastructure investments to occur within walkable districts with compact development and clear service and amenity destinations.

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Also as part of the plan, HKGi conducted a GIS analysis of the Red Wing landscape to identify ecologically sensitive lands and used that information to establish policy creating a permanent, interconnected greenway network that does double and triple duty as trail corridors and stormwater sinks. The plan places significant focus on other sustainability initiatives ranging from green development standards to operational changes in service delivery.

The HKGi team along with the community as a full project partner formulated much of the comprehensive plan working out of a downtown storefront during a week-long community charrette. During that time, multiple community workshops were held and the community was invited to drop in and participate in the planning process during studio time. The effort was energizing and resulted in a highly innovative plan that has been embraced by the community.

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