Cities, counties, and townships in the seven-county Twin Cities region will be getting a multitude of support from the Metropolitan Council as they begin to update their local comprehensive plans, required every 10 years by state law. Topping the list of support are 2050 System Statements and the Local Planning Handbook. And with technical assistance from expert planning staff, the Met Council stands ready to help local governments carry out their local vision in a comprehensive plan that supports regional goals. Earlier this year the Met Council approved Imagine 2050, the new regional development guide. That set the stage for local comprehensive plan updates. “The regional vision, values, and goals in Imagine 2050 reflect what we heard from our local government partners, advocates, and residents across the region,” said Angela Torres, senior manager of Local Planning Assistance at the Met Council. “Imagine 2050 provides the framework for local governments to create their local plans for land use, transportation, water, housing, and regional parks & trails.” System statements – a customized roadmap for local governments This month, the Met Council will issue System Statements for each of the seven counties and 181 cities and townships in the region. These statements are individualized reports for each community and include what the Met Council sees coming in terms of population, household, and jobs growth. They also include information about development expectations and how key changes to regional system plans for transportation, water, and regional parks and trails will impact a community. Communities use the System Statements to review their current comprehensive plans and prepare updates. Updated local comprehensive plans are due to the Met Council no later than Dec. 31, 2028. It’s all part of a 10-year planning cycle established by the Metropolitan Land Planning Act. This state law creates the conditions for orderly and economical growth in the region, efficient infrastructure investments, and protection of vital natural systems. Local Planning Handbook: a one-stop shop for planners The Local Planning Handbook is the Met Council’s one-stop online resource for local communities to access tools, data, and resources that help local governments through their comprehensive planning process. It also has customized features for each city, county, and township, and includes: Clear guidance on minimum plan requirements and how to meet them. Tools, maps, resources, and technical assistance to meet or go beyond the minimum requirements if a community wishes, as well as help with a variety of planning issues of interest to communities across the region. Community-specific information on forecasts, affordable housing need, and much more to ensure communities have what they need to plan for their future. The 2015 version of the Local Planning Handbook – the first fully web-based edition – and the suite of technical assistance tools offered by the Met Council won a national award for best practices in planning assistance. It has been extensively updated and user-tested for this new planning cycle. Specialized tools address key topics An example of one of the new specialized tools included in the updated Local Planning Handbook is the Natural Systems Planning Tool. This interactive mapping tool will help communities to meet requirements for stewarding natural systems. It also offers a story map that provides context, case studies, and examples of natural systems strategies that local governments might choose to pursue. Other interactive tools will be released and new features added as communities prepare for the planning cycle. Look for these tools to be launched: A new housing data tool and implementation toolkit A fully updated greenhouse gas emissions reduction tool A new climate action toolkit to help with local strategies Looking ahead: financial assistance and an education program Also coming later this fall will be finalized details about a planning assistance grant program to support community planning work along with a new program designed specifically for the region’s smallest communities with the most need for assistance. Next year, the Met Council will launch the 2050 PlanIt Program, a rich series of webinars, workshops, tutorials, news blasts, and a daylong planners conference. These are opportunities for planners across the region to come together to learn more and dive deep into local planning topics and to access help to complete local comprehensive plans. As always, the Met Council’s sector representatives – experienced local planners who work in the Met Council’s Local Planning Assistance department – are ready to provide technical assistance to local governments as they update their plans. They develop close working relationships with local planning staff and coordinate the Met Council’s local comprehensive plan review process. View a presentation on how the Met Council will be supporting local governments during this phase of the planning cycle. (Starts at 6:50.) Posted In: Planning