PlanIt

Youth play a crucial role in envisioning and realizing our future communities, but are often left out of the planning process. In this month's episode we speak with Darcie Vandegrift, a Principal Researcher at the Metropolitan Council, about her research on the relationship between youth and parks. This research aimed to better understand youth experiences in parks by focusing on motivations for participation, barriers to access, and desired activities and amenities. Listen to the episode to learn more about the research process, their findings, and how this information is being used.

Gentrification has impacted many people living in cities as under-invested neighborhoods have been transformed into higher wealth areas. As the cost of living increases, gentrification often leads to the displacement of longtime residents who can no longer afford to live in these areas. Local jurisdictions can take steps to monitor these changes and implement policies and processes that minimize negative impacts to residents. In this episode we talk with Ed Goetz, professor of urban and regional planning at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, director of Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) at the University of Minnesota, and coauthor of The Diversity of Gentrification report, which looks at gentrification in Minneapolis and St. Paul over 15 years and provides recommended policy approaches to shift narratives.

Planning decisions and policies can have devastating consequences on the social environment and disproportionately impact communities of color. An example in recent history is the construction of I-94 through the thriving African American Rondo neighborhood in the City of St. Paul. This planning decision tore apart a community of color, leaving damages that have lasted generations. Now, almost 70 years later, the community is working with the City and other partners to repair this harm. In this episode we talk with Keith Baker, executive director of ReConnect Rondo, and Tony Johnson, senior planner at the City of St. Paul about these efforts.

Planners are always working on ideas to activate public spaces and bring more residents together. Utilizing these areas not only creates spaces where people want to be, but also is a strong economic development tool for local communities. One such recent project is Panoway in the City of Wayzata, where the City partnered with the Musicant Group to activate their lakefront space. In this episode we hear from Emily Goellner, Community Development Director at the City of Wayzata, Max Musicant, Founder and Principal of Musicant Group, and Kim Peterson, Division Manager for Community Management at the Musicant Group about this placemaking experience.

Data gathered through Census is used to inform planning processes at many levels. The new data for 2020 Census was released by the U.S. Census Bureau in August 2021. But what were the changes in the 2020 Census and how did they impact the results? What did we learn from those results and how do they impact our work? In this episode, Matt Schroeder, Principal Researcher at the Metropolitan Council, walks us through the whole process, changes, results, and how to challenge those results. You can access more information and resources through the U.S. Census Data and Census 2020 page of our website.

Nowadays, the effects of a changing climate are apparent in every aspect of our lives. The uncertainties created by climate change make long-term planning for future investments difficult. As such, ongoing efforts are trying to find a way to better understand the impact of these uncertainties. Staff at the Metropolitan Council, in partnership with academic institutions, have worked to put together a tool to assist local communities with envisioning possible alternative futures based on data on greenhouse gas emissions. In this episode, we expand on this topic in our conversation with Mauricio Leon, senior researcher at the Metropolitan Council and Kaitlin Osterman, student at Macalester College.

The Metropolitan Council's Solar for Vouchers Program provides technical assistance to help multifamily rental property owners install solar panels and reduce their energy costs. Property owners can take advantage of these savings in exchange for a commitment to rent some of their units at market rates to Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program participants. In this episode, Cameran Bailey and Baris Gumus-Dawes talk about the background information, details, and benefits of this program. 

All communities have to deal with parking requirements. These requirements can at times impose tremendous limitations on developments. Considering the wide impact that parking requirements can have on future of development, many communities have undertaken efforts to reform them. Additionally, with changes in parking demand and driving habits, as well as innovative practices, many communities have started to incorporate new parking management ideas in their code. In this episode, we expand on this topic in our conversation with Sean Walther and Jennifer Monson from the City of St. Louis Park, and Lance Bernard from HKGi.

When the COVID-19 pandemic confined us to our homes, people found refuge and community in the region's parks, trails, and open spaces. The significant increase in park users challenged planners to find creative solutions to expand the capacity of these spaces to allow for safe, socially-distanced recreation and to engage users around the new future of parks. In this episode, we hear from Lil Leatham from Dakota County, and Adam Arvidson and Daniel Elias from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board about the impact of COVID-19 on parks, how they addressed these challenges and opportunities, and how they plan to use what they have learned moving forward.

More and more communities have been considering health in their long-range planning and policy discussions. Many have incorporated health in their 2040 comprehensive plans. Staff from the Public Health Law Center, Minnesota Department of Health, and the Metropolitan Council worked on a collaborative project to review over 50 local comprehensive plans and analyze how communities have included public health goals in these plans. The purpose of the project is to use this information to provide technical assistance to other communities and implementation strategies. This episode explores the methodology and findings of this research. 

The Metropolitan Council has partnered with the Resilient Communities Project (RCP) to provide support for communities implementing their 2040 comprehensive plans. One of the projects that RCP and the students worked on in the 2020-21 academic year was "Enhancing Woodbury's Urban Tree Canopy." Through this effort, RCP assisted the City of Woodbury with their Tree Canopy plan engagement process and created an engagement toolkit that can be used by any other community. This episode explores the process and results of this project.

The Metropolitan Council Research team has put together a dataset to provide equity-relevant characteristics for all census tracts in the Twin Cities Region. You may have heard of and worked with Areas of Concentrated Poverty (ACP). The new Equity Considerations dataset replaces ACPs to provide nuanced information in conjunction with community engagement efforts and additional local knowledge (as described in the User Guide). In this episode, Krysten Ryba-Tures and Matt Schroeder from the Council’s Research team explain this dataset and its applications for local planning.

In 2020 we experienced an unprecedented pandemic ; we witnessed businesses, schools, and offices close; many of us started working from home; we adopted rigorous health and safety guidelines; and we didn't visit our families and friends. Our Cities suffered similarly, with tax loss, lack of funding, and extenuating circumstances to respond to the communities' needs. Many of them have come out stronger with lessons to take into the future. In this episode, we hear from Todd Graham at the Metropolitan Council about the big picture economic impact of the pandemic, and we talk with Meg Beekman from the City of Brooklyn Center and Anne Kane from the City of White Bear Lake about the measures they have implemented in their communities.

Many communities have started to consider to address equity policies in their long-range plans, as well as implementation actions. However, resources about how to start these conversations, identify actionable policies, and continue the effort at the local level are hard to come by. In this episode, we explore these points with two cities in the Twin Cities region that been working on this topic. We are joined by Alicia Sojourner, Meg McMonigal, and Sean Walther from the City of St. Louis Park, and Kiarra Zackery and Jason Zimmerman from the City of Golden Valley.

Planners regularly work and interact with architects as part of development proposals, variances, and approvals. However, planners are less aware of how architects arrive at the design concept they bring to the table. What considerations matter more in the process, and how can planners make the most of this partnership? In this episode, Elizabeth Turner from Precipitate Architecture and Sustainable Design consulting firm, helps us navigate how planning policies and zoning codes impact development projects and how such impacts can be reduced to foster better design.

You may have heard the term 'energy policy,' but what does that really mean? What are the energy trends that we see in our communities, and what resources are available to create and implement energy policies? The Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) is a non-profit organization that helps communities create and implement energy policies. In this episode, we hear from Katie Jones, Community Program and Policy Manager at CEE, about the energy policy technical assistance they provide to local communities.

How are highways and highway improvements planned? What agencies are involved in ensuring that the region’s transportation system is operating smoothly? What is the process from envisioning a highway project to implementing that change? These are some of the questions that we explored in this episode. Listen to our conversation with transportation professionals from Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Melissa Barnes, Molly McCartney, and Brad Utecht.

What happens at the United Nations Climate Conference every year, and why do these international negotiations matter for Minnesota? What can Minnesotans contribute to and learn from this international conference? We asked these and other questions to Climate Generation’s Sarah Goodspeed and the Metropolitan Council’s Eric Wojchik about their December 2019 attendance at the COP25 in Madrid, Spain.

Following Episode 26 of our podcast about planning in Scotland, we continued exploring planning topics in another part of the world. In this episode we had a conversation about economic development and private investments in Nairobi, Kenya; specifically the Village Market development complex. Hamed Ehsani, Managing Director of Green Hills Investments talked about the process, opportunities, and challenges of developments in Kenya.

As the population of the Twin Cities metro area grows, the economy has become more prosperous. However, the impacts and positive outcomes of the growth in the economy are not distributed equitably in the region. Some geographic areas or populations have been excluded from the prospects of a strong economy. In this episode, Tawanna Black, from the Center for Economic Inclusion talks about the role of planning and local governments in advancing equity in economic growth.

Have you ever thought about how urban planning in other countries around the world is similar or different from the US? Are planning issues, priorities, and processes different from one place to another? How can we learn from each other and employ best planning practices across the globe? In this episode, we explored planning in Scotland, since it is similar in size to the state of Minnesota. Alan Brown, Planning Officer with Dundee City Council talks about planning in Scotland and how approaches to similar issues are different.

When we consider planning for local wastewater infrastructure, we hear a lot about inflow and infiltration. What is inflow and infiltration? Why does it matter and how can we plan for it over the long-term? This podcast explores the intricacies of this topic and provides insight into this important planning consideration and how to best reduce inflow and infiltration through collaboration and use of data.

By 2040, the population of the Twin Cities metropolitan area is forecasted to increase by more than 500,000 people. As the region grows and additional households move into denser areas, the need for a sustainable public transportation system becomes even more evident. Twin Cities transit system has been expanding and providing a variety of options for users. One of the newer system expansions are Arterial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines. In this episode, Katie Roth, Manager of Arterial BRT with MetroTransit, talks about the impacts of a BRT line and the roles that Cities play to make the most advantage of such investments.

We often hear about projects that have to go through an environmental review process, such as a stadium or light-rail projects. However, environmental reviews encompass much more than high profile projects. Many housing developments, highway improvements and stream realignments are also subject to environmental review. In this episode, Kristin Mroz from the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) discusses different types of environmental reviews, the requirements, and the steps needed to complete this process. Additional information and resources mentioned throughout the episode can be found on the EQB's Environmental Review Program website. 

While planning for Solar access is a requirement of comprehensive planning in the metro area, other renewable resources can be a great source of energy and economic stability. Brian Ross, Program Director at Great Plains Institute (GPI) walks us through the importance of incorporating planning for renewable resources in long-range and everyday planning efforts.

In the recent years, we have seen changes in the climate, resulting in many issues around the country, such as flooding, fire, health impacts, hot summers, and rainy winters. While a changing climate encompasses a wide range of disciplines, planners are in a unique situation to prepare and plan for a better future. In this episode, Eric Wojchik, Senior Planner at the Metropolitan Council, will talk about the regional Climate Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) project, and resources for planners to do similar analysis in their communities. Be sure to check out the Metropolitan Council CVA website, localized flooding and extreme heat story maps, and the Local Planning Handbook’s Resilience plan element.

Minnesota is well known for the extensive number of lakes and waterbodies that exist within the state. These natural resources are invaluable assets that should be protected from negative impacts of development around them, mainly in the more urbanized area. In this episode, Matt Bauman (651-259-5710), Floodplain and Shoreland Planner with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), explains standards and measures for better protection of shoreland and floodplain areas at the local level. He also provides resources for communities to more easily adopt and implement shoreland and floodplain planning.

Planners use geospatial data on a regular basis. Some use it to create simple maps, while others need data for nuanced projects. Ultimately, maps and data are visual tools that allow for better informed decision making. Geoff Maas, MetroGIS Coordinator at the Metropolitan Council, talks about his efforts in making GIS data in the Twin Cities region open and standardized, and how it benefits the planning profession. 

We have covered different planning topics since the beginning of our PlanIt Podcast Series. But we didn’t start with what the value of long-range planning is, and what could the future of planning look like. What are some considerations to keep in mind when thinking long term? In this episode, Lyle Wray, the Executive Director of Capital Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) in Connecticut, sat with us during a recent visit to the Twin Cities to talk about the value of long-range planning, and what the future of planning could look like.

PlanIt is a monthly (for the most part!) podcast on a variety of planning topics related to comprehensive plans. If you have an idea for a new episode, email us at ReviewsCoordinator@metc.state.mn.us. Stay tuned for the next episode! 

You most likely have heard the term ‘Economic Development’ a lot, but what does it really mean and how do different cities approach it? In this episode we talked with Dave Gontarek, Principal Project Manager, and Nora Riemenschneider, Economic Development Program Coordinator at the City of St. Paul about their experiences and ideas for successful economic development.

Planning can at times create unintended consequences, mostly for lower income communities and communities of color. It's the job of planners and policy makers to address these inequitable outcomes. Green Zones Initiative in Minneapolis is a concept to ensure these efforts are intentional, organized, and timely. Another similar effort is EcoDistricts that focuses on sustainable communities. In this episode, Kelly Muellman, Sustainability Program Coordinator at the City of Minneapolis explains the City's work and collaboration with the community in establishing this policy. 

Planning for a community includes thinking about the population and their housing needs in the future. Local governments need to be mindful of the policies they adopt and resources they provide. In this episode, James Lehnhoff from Ehlers talks about housing, housing finance, tools and how to meet your community's future needs. 

Change is inevitable. Communities are constantly changing and evolving due to new demands, technology, public spaces, and more. Private sector developers play an important role in shaping the future of the communities. So, what is their relationship like with Cities and planners? And how can this relationship be utilized to achieve positive outcomes for all parties? In this episode, Peter Brown who consults with both sides, explores ways to ensure best results.

Neighborhood is a term loosely used when talking about any certain area of a community. But Neighborhood Groups exist in many communities across the Twin Cities region regardless of the exact terminology and size of the neighborhood. These group structures can be a valuable conduit in connecting with the residents. In this episode, we explore the value of collaboration between Neighborhood Groups and Cities in local planning processes and best practices. Our guests are Tabitha Montgomery, the Executive Director of the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association, and Lisa Barajas, Vice-Chair of the board of Corcoran Neighborhood Organization, in Minneapolis.

Space and place define our cities. According to Max Musicant, the Founder and Principal at The Musicant Group, place and space can be used for creative activities, or to foster community engagement with groups who may not normally be at the table. In this episode, we talk about placemaking and community engagement with underrepresented populations. We recorded this episode at the Capella Tower in downtown Minneapolis, where the Musicant Group helped change the use of common spaces in the building. We apologize for the audio quality of this podcast.

Recently, communities are having more conversations about equity, engaging with the topic in a variety of ways, from human resources management to parks planning. However, there are other planning areas that have not clearly addressed equity. When we think of transportation planning, we often inherently think of it through an equity lens, but we don’t convey this or clearly identify equity in our transportation planning. Going forward, we will need to clearly link equity and transportation to evaluate if we are achieving equitable outcomes in our transportation planning. This episode sheds light on the topic and explores the connection between transportation planning and planning for equity.

Agencies, local governments, and community groups frequently face challenges in their work due to limited resources. They may not be able to start/finish projects because of insufficient staff time, funds, or priorities. In these situations, academic institutions can be a great resource to build capacity and support good planning practices. Local schools, colleges, and universities provide a connection between students and communities. In this episode, we explore two of these programs, the Resilient Communities Project (RCP) at the University of Minnesota and Sustainable Communities Partnership (SCP) at the University of St. Thomas.

Environmental Justice is a topic that appears more in conversations. While it may seem that Environmental Justice is specifically about natural environment, the topic encompasses all physical and social attributes of the built environment. In this episode, Karen Monahan from the Sierra Club North Star Chapter, talks about what it means and how it can be incorporated into city planning. 

Historic Preservation is a topic that more and more communities are including in their planning efforts. But what is Historic Preservation and what does planning for it mean? In this episode, John Smoley from the City of Minneapolis explains this concept, ways to include it in the comprehensive planning process, and resources that are available for communities. 

Equity is a popular topic of discussion, but how can planning organizations address that within their structure? What are some actions that they can take to include equity in everyday operations? Gordon Goodwin from the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) will discuss ways and resources in this episode.

Any community, regardless of its size, has to plan for redevelopment projects at some point. In this episode, we will take a quick look at the process of identifying sites, gathering resources, and facing challenges of redevelopment with Martha Faust the Executive Director of Minnesota Brownfields.

There are many ways to think about water and how it interacts with other elements of your comprehensive plan. In this episode, we hear from Jen Kader from Freshwater Society, about different ways to address water in the plan, working with watershed districts and watershed management organizations, and resources to help you along the way. 

Arts play a significant role in bringing the community together, creating a sense of place, and exemplifying well designed, successful placemaking. In this episode, we’ll explore ways planners can incorporate arts in planning processes, with Roger Cummings, one of the directors of Juxtaposition Arts.

Learn about the benefits, challenges, and best practices of developing and implementing small area plans from the cities of Bloomington and Golden Valley. Find out how your community can utilize this approach to focus planning efforts on specific geographies.

Youth make up a significant portion of our communities and therefore engaging them in planning processes is essential. In this episode, Corrin Wendell, Senior Planner at the Metropolitan Council and founder and executive director of YEP!, a non-profit dedicated to engaging youth, discusses ways to get them involved.

In this episode professor Greg Lindsey from the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs discusses why and how bike/ped count projects are done, and how to use this information in your local planning process. 

Welcome to the PlanIt podcast series! Discover new planning topics monthly.