City to Complete Downtown Master Plan

The intent of the plan is to develop an integrated strategy for downtown planning and create a long-term sustainable downtown. It is the hope that when this Master Plan is completed, it will not only provide from a land use perspective, but will also create marketing strategies to attract desireable retail into the downtown corridor, and focus on creating long-term sustainable residential support from the community.

Over the past months, City Staff has been interviewing firms capable of completing such a project and who have worked on other downtown master plans, such as Red Wing, Stillwater, and Excelsior. City Staff also submitted a grant application to the United States federal government through the environmental protection agency to seek dollars to assist with this project.

Staff has now completed interviews with several firms and continues to move forward with recommendations to the City Council at the October 19th meeting. It is anticipated this process will take approximately nine months. As part of the process, the City will be working with our planning consultant to develop a Task Force to include representation from the Downtown Business Council, downtown residents, City commissions, and other local residents.

Questions about the steps the City is taking in this process may be referred to City Administrator, Matt Podhradsky, at 952-448-9200.

UPDATE: DOWNTOWN CHASKA MASTER PLAN

In mid-March of this year, Council and Department Heads attended a two-day planning retreat to focus on developing/reaffirming our long-term visions for Chaska, and to develop a specific list of priority goals the City will focus on accomplishing over the next 5-year period. The following Five-Year Goals were identified.

Create Jobs through Economic Development

Promote Chaska’s “Small Town” Image

Influence Regional Transportation Choices

Provide Balanced Housing Options

Promote Chaska’s Sustainable Energy Practices

As part of the goal of promoting Chaska’s “Small Town Image” the Council and Staff identified a variety of action items that needed to occur to accomplish that particular goal. One of these action items was to create a downtown master planning process - utilizing experts. Given the important nature of the Downtown Chaska Master Plan, Staff reached out to three consulting firms that had done work similar to that which would be needed to successfully complete this process. All three proposals had a cost estimate of $80,000. The Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc (HKGi) had a very strong “forward leaning” interview and proposal. Their team’s strategic goals for the downtown and their proposed methodology for developing a strategic marketing position for the downtown was spot on. Staff knows of or has worked with all of the team members. The principal author, Jeff Miller, is a former Chaska City Planner and recently completed Chaska’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan. The scope of services to be provided by HKGi has been prepared to address the goals and objectives of the Downtown Chaska Master Plan with seven tasks:

Organize the Effort

Prepare a Downtown Chaska Physical Inventory & Market Opportunity Analysis

Evaluate Downtown Chaska Transportation and Parking Needs

Create Preliminary Chaska Downtown Master Plan and Urban Design Guidelines

Create the Downtown Chaska Market Positioning Strategy

Establish Implementation Strategies

Prepare and Approve Final Downtown Chaska Master Plan

Over the next couple of weeks, City Staff will be moving forward to start these efforts, with completion expected in 9-12 months. Any questions about the Master Plan may be directed to the Planning Director at 952-448-9200.

ALSO VISIT:

Planning Department

City to Complete Downtown Master Plan

UPDATE: DOWNTOWN CHASKA MASTER PLAN