03/13/2000 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

• Strategies for growing smart in Minnesota To accomplish Minnesota's smart growth goals, the Ventura administration has identified three major strategic directions. Strategy 1: Engage citizens in planning and decision - making For smart growth to become a reality, Minnesota needs an active, informed citizenry and , business community participating in planning and decision- making at the local level. To accomplish this, the state of Minnesota will partner with local governments, business groups, civic organizations and others to: ■ Engage•citizens in defining what smart growth looks like and assessing the costs and consequences of development alternatives, through visual preference surveys, community dialogs, forums and other tools. ▪ Promote better coordination and communication with state, local and regional interests on planning and development through comprehensive planning. ▪ Continue to provide citizens with comprehensive planning choices by eliminating the June 2001 sunset of the Community -Based Planning Act. Conduct an independent analysis of the Community -Based Planning program as the basis for future changes to the Act 1 Strategy 2: Position and align state government for smart growth For smart growth to work, Minnesota must align its incentives with its goals. This means linking investments and policies for transportation, housing, economic development, environmental protection and natural resources management so they encourage economic opportunity while sustaining Minnesota's quality of life. The state must lead by example, by incorporating smart growth principles into its planning and spending process, and by providing incentives for local governments to make smart growth chokes. To accomplish this, the Governor's Smart Growth initiative will; ■ Inventory current state government policies and incentives and resources to determine how they work for or against smart growth. Identify and focus on 'flash points' where competing policy goals hamper progress on smart growth. ■ Work with Governor Ventura's Tax Reform Project to evaluate what changes to the tax system are necessary to promote smart growth. Ensure that any new tax incentives for smart growth can demonstrate measurable results and are consistent with Governor Ventura's goals for a simpler, more equitable tax system. Amk ■ Reform other state incentives and policies to reinforce smart growth principles. Ensure consistency between transportation and other infrastructure investments and land -use plans.