Laserfiche WebLink
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT <br /> <br /> Successful progress and some completion on development projects including the Pioneer Commons <br />townhome residential development, RIDE Apartments development, Women’s Life Care Center, Villas at <br />Gervais Lake residential development, Lupe’s 99 County Road B affordable senior housing development. <br /> Timely completion of over a dozen Zoning Verification Letters. <br /> Metropolitan Council LCA grant submitted for Senior Affordable Apartments <br /> Held dozens of meetings with property owners, residents, and prospective developers to proactively <br />answer their specific questions <br /> Completed and executed development agreement with RIDE apartments <br /> Created business visit materials, built inventory database, and have begun conducting visits to all <br />businesses in Little Canada (Approx 50% completed as of 8/28/25) <br /> Bolstered OpenGov permitting to add code-enforcement features, improve inspection workflows, add <br />zoning permits and letters, add chicken and cannabis licenses, and finalizing online submittal of planning <br />case applications. <br /> Code enforcement, rental, fire and Outdoor Storage Licensing inspections successfully completed. With <br />shift to OpenGov, specific numbers on the number and outcomes of these inspections will be available <br />in the next year. <br /> Participated in the Metropolitan Council Transit Planning Group, Ramsey County Economic Development <br />Summits, Northeast Planners group, and G-Line advisory group. <br /> <br />2026 Departmental Goals <br /> Leverage business contacts gathered in 2025 to participate in targeted small area planning efforts. <br />o Begin small area planning in earnest on the Rice Street corridor with a focus on delivering a plan <br />that can be implemented for the forthcoming G-Line and Rice Street reconstruction project. <br /> Create plans/frameworks for City-owned parcels with strategic direction on sale or additional <br />acquisition. <br /> Finalize a trail/sidewalk plan for Little Canda to leverage for future grant opportunities. <br /> Continue to refine zoning code, evaluating exterior building materials, outdoor storage requirements, <br />and potentially lot sizes. <br /> Stage timeline for 2050 Comprehensive Plan updates. <br /> Continue to bolster the use of OpenGov for higher efficiency and greater consistency in operations. <br /> <br />Budgetary Commentary <br />Planning Budget – The budget has a net increase of 5.31% to accommodate for on-going needs from 2025 to <br />2026. However, we see a 10.24% increase or $2,345. The increase is a net impact from various line items in this <br />category. One line item that relates to technical assistance has been increased by $6,000 as there is a $10,000 <br />grant matching requirement or for an intern in summer 2026. <br /> <br />Inspections Budget – The budget had a net increase of 9.02% or $30,855.55 to accommodate for on-going <br />needs. Personnel services has been increased primarily due to cost-of-living adjustments and step increases for <br />eligible employees, a total of $22,532.40. <br /> <br />Fire Inspections Budget – The budget is relatively flat when compared with prior year, primarily due to staff <br />changes, new fire inspector hired in 2025. <br /> <br />69