For more than a year, city of Minneapolis planners and Cedar-Riverside stakeholders have been meeting to discuss the future development of that neighborhood by creating a Small Area Plan (SAP) — a microcosm of the city’s larger comprehensive plan, said Senior Planner Beth Elliott.

A draft of the SAP will be open for a 45-day public comment period, beginning Jan. 4. Afterwards, that feedback will be integrated into the final draft, which will become part of the larger comprehensive plan.

The SAP — 120 pages long in its early draft form in mid-December — is intended to guide future planning in the areas of land use, design, transportation, economic development and more.

The SAP outlines 10 “guiding principles” addressing public safety, economic prosperity, infill and mixed-use development of commercial areas; the preservation of the neighborhood’s historic and multicultural qualities; multimodal transportation and parking issues; partnerships among community stakeholders, institutions and public agencies; improved amenities for pedestrians and bicyclists; and to improve the public realm and “gathering spaces” within Cedar-Riverside.

The SAP provides a history of Cedar-Riverside and identifies historic resources. It also outlines demographic statistics such as population, income, employment, and residential and commercial real estate information. It includes maps with detailed information about property, transportation, land use, economic development and more.

The city collected public input through large public meetings, smaller group meetings, surveys and a steering committee of 20 neighborhood stakeholders, which met regularly throughout the year. City planners also referred to numerous previous studies done about Cedar-Riverside.
While Elliott said the city has gone to great lengths to collect input from the diverse stakeholders in the neighborhood, the SAP process has gotten mixed reviews from some members of the steering committee. While some have praised aspects — such as the overall plan for business development and emphasis on pedestrian and bicycle safety and access — they’ve also called for more detailed planning for future development, parking and community space.

In an interview, Elliott said that the SAP is intended to set guidelines for such development, but not necessarily specific planning, which can be undertaken later, with the input of the SAP.

The plan will be available online at http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/planning/cedar-riverside.asp and in hard copy at the Brian Coyle Community Center, Central Library, and City Hall room 210.

All comments should be sent in writing to:

Beth Elliott, Principal City Planner
350 S. Fifth St., room 210
Minneapolis, MN 55415
beth.elliott@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Fax: 612-673-2728

— Jeremy Stratton

last revised: January 2, 2008

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