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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT <br /> <br />Department Overview <br />The Community Development Department provides direction and vision for the future economic and physical <br />growth of the City of Little Canada. The Department carries out the objectives and policies of the <br />Comprehensive Plan to enhance the quality of life, facilitate orderly growth and development in the community <br />through zoning administration, land use application processing, and long-range planning. The Department also <br />provides quality customer service, technical information, permit processing, inspections, and code enforcement <br />to ensure compliance with State and local standards for livability and the integrity of the community and <br />surrounding area while enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. <br /> <br />Our Mission <br />Our mission is to serve as a resource for residents and business owners in an effort to find solutions for their <br />property needs. Planning and Zoning is about creating equitable opportunities that help guide the City, its <br />neighborhoods, and commercial components into a resilient future. <br /> <br />Service Areas <br /> Planning and Land Use  Economic Development  Building Permits <br /> Zoning Administration  Code Enforcement  Building Inspections <br /> Rental Housing Inspections <br /> Fire Inspections <br /> Comprehensive Plan <br />Implementation <br /> Staff liaison to Planning <br />Commission <br /> <br />2024/2025 Departmental Accomplishments <br /> Successful completion of 12 Planning Cases. <br /> Wrote and saw adoption of nearly 10 ordinances which made substantial amendments to the city’s sign, <br />fence, and driveway standards. Created cannabis regulations based on City Council and Planning <br />Commission direction. <br /> Crafted questions, help score candidates, conducted interviews, and helped prepare offers for Fire <br />Inspector and Building Official. <br /> Despite unforeseen circumstances with Staff missing time due to illness of selves or immediate family, <br />department still expeditiously responded to development applications ranging from building permits to <br />planning cases. <br /> Renegotiated contract with City’s 3rd party inspection firm to save the city tens of thousands on plan <br />review for RIDE apartment. <br /> Conducted cost and staffing analysis for St. Anthony Building Department services. Coordinated with St. <br />Anthony and Falcon Heights on possibilities. <br /> Outperformed budgeted revenues for building services. <br /> Worked with acting City Administrator to vet bonding request for KINF. <br /> Received $500,000 in funding to construct sidewalk on Rice Street from south of Demont to County <br />Road C. <br /> Played an active role in Strategic Planning process. <br /> Worked to resolve several legacy/ongoing code-enforcement problems such as the Bix and Pitrina Park <br />dispute. Code-enforcement tackled a litany of different issues this year given to us via neighbor <br />complaints. <br /> Reacted expediently and facilitated a fair, transparent, and equitable process to evaluate Lake Phalen <br />Rowing Club’s request to have rowers on Lake Gervais. <br /> Completed Little Canada’s first-ever comprehensive housing study. <br />68