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Planning Commission PliBLIC HEARING, July 23, 1980 PROPOSED UPDATING QF COMPREHIsNSIVIs h1UNIC1_f'~tiL PLAN o1 Falcon Heights, Minncsoti ~s P.equired by Provisions of the Metr_opol_itan Land Planning Act ~ SliMT~iARY OF FINDINGS, Ct)NCT,[JSIONS AND R} COMMF.NUATIONS Background iti'hile formal Community planning efforts date back to at least 19!+9, Falcon Heights does not now have an up-to-date comprehensive plan for future development nor environmental maintenance. This current plan- ning effort is intended to bring Local planning up-to-date and aise t, comply with legal_ rec{uirement.s for tucal community planning; and ac~~~~a. <.nother purpose of this planning effort is an attempt to arrive at a consensus as to environmental_ needs for the future. In short, an at- tempt to describe what Falcon Heights should be like yin future years. s an aid to this process, two citizen surveys were conducted to h-~ln list the likes, dislikes with respect to the Community environmer.`~ anc'_ to obtain comments and suggestions for improvement over the coming ~:2ars. hork on the proposed City Plan has been conducted by the. Planning Com- mission over the past two years with assistance from a Planning Consultant Summar~° of Findings and Conclusions Falcon Heights has some unique features including a highlZ~ di~~rersi~ied population, major land areas in l~ub tic ~is~, (U, of M. and State Fair~~~ , residential areas in generally excc~ lent condition in sharp contrast - to commercial area deterioration, and rl "rural" atmoshert~ in an urba:. setting. Other significant bindings are: 1. 'There are negative en vi.ron.menta.l. fa~~tors whi_cli could lead to h_,usi:,g deterioration in the f-utur_e.. 2. Population numbers have been rather stable in Falcon Heights since 1960; preliminary 1980 Census data i.n<lic.ates a current population of only about 5,200 persons which is also the 'Metropolitan Council projection for population in the. year 2000. It is essential t't~at the City takes steps to assure a ftit~irc: population of over 5,000 persons to remain in a sound public fl.nancial condition. I°funicipai State Aid and other f.nanc.ial grants-in-a:id will be lost if popula- tion drops below the 5,000 person marls. 3. The Universitti wil_1. maintain the currant use of the various farms. land plots within the foreseeable future thus assuring a continues "open, green space" atmosphere. 'I'bis does mean, however, that on 1-: about 24 acres of private, vacant land remains for residential_ and other developments (approx. 7 commer~~ial acres and 1] residentl~i~. 4. Zoning regulations and certain other codes and ordinances are not up-to-date, in total. compllanc.e, with new State requirements, nor adequate for current environmenta:L protection and improvement needs. 5. While existing land use patterns anti traffic. circulation feat~.~re are far from ideal, improvements can be mz.de to the living environment. _, 6. Provisions for pedestrian and bike circulation arc, for the most part, inadequate and even hazardous _n some areas. 7. Detailed and localizc,d im rovements can be made to the environment P that will give the Community a greater sense of identity, help main- -1- _.