Join us... Metropolitan Council Community Dialogue on Growth (Dunn Bros. will provide the coffee, you provide the conversation) Thursday, June 13 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. University of St. Thomas 1000 LaSalle Ave, Minneapolis
Is the ability to walk to places in your neighborhood a factor in deciding where to live? Do you support regional initiatives and policies that combat urban sprawl, such as redevelopment and more compact housing in urbanized areas? They're the kind of questions that will be asked. The dialogues are part of a 3-year effort to engage the public in developing Blueprint 2030, a strategy to enhance livability in the Twin Cities area. Among the key issues will be transportation and congestion, and how to better connect people with their destinations, environmental preservation and natural resource protection and housing that meets the needs of people of all ages and levels of income. Three different growth models for the Twin Cities area have been shaped by public preferences about growth and development. These are not concrete plans, but food for discussion. One model, the "current" scenario, was created by combining the development plans of all the individual cities, towns and counties in the seven county metro area. The other two scenarios are based on the type of development people, who attended previous growth workshops, said they like: walkable neighborhoods, good access to schools, jobs, parks and other amenities, more transit options, more housing choices, and a community or neighborhood "feel." Turns out, the type of development people say they prefer is also the most efficient in terms of land consumption, infrastructure costs and automobile use, offers housing choices and environmental preservation and promotes a sense of community. Under the current scenario, for example, the region will develop an additional 286 square miles of land by 2030, compared with 152 acres and 136 acres in Scenarios A and B, respectively. Scenarios A and B also save billions of dollars in road and sewer infrastructure costs, not including schools and other local infrastructure, such as public safety facilities. They would dramatically reduce the impact of auto emissions and reduce highway travel by promoting transit, as well as closer proximity between home and work. Space is limited, so RSVP by e-mailing your name, and the location you want to attend, to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or call in your reservation to 651-602-1845. For more information on Blueprint 2030, visit http://www.metrocouncil.org/planning/blueprint2030/overview.htm The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning organization for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. The Council advocates Smart Growth for vital communities and a competitive region. It runs the regional bus system, collects and treats wastewater, manages regional water resources, plans regional parks and administers funds that provide housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. The 17-member Metropolitan Council is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Minnesota Governor. _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
