The City of Kimball will begin a 10-month study process that will result in the city’s first-ever comprehensive plan. The study process will formally begin at a meeting to be held Wednesday, Aug. 22. Bill Smith, a planning consultant from Biko Associates, Inc., said, “This first meeting is very important, because this is where we will form a Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, which will guide the study process.” Biko Associates, Inc. is the consultant firm the city selected to conduct the planning study process and prepare the plan. A comprehensive plan is a formal document that outlines a city’s growth and development policies. Its three purposes are to: 1) state a community’s desires as goals, objectives, and a vision of what might be; 2) serve as a guide to decision-making on growth and development issues; and 3) serve as a legal document that outlines a city’s land use plan and provides legal standing to support the city’s zoning code, subdivision ordinance, and building code. Within the last two years, the city of Kimball, only 18 miles from St. Cloud, has witnessed an increase in the number of residential building permits. This increase has potential to place added demands on the city’s roads, sewers, water supply, police and fire services, and educational and recreational resources and facilities. At the same time, population increases can also present opportunities for the city in the areas of economic development and commercial/retail growth. Smith added, “As development continues in Kimball, city officials, who approve development proposals and issue building permits, will want to assure the public that the growth that is allowed to occur is orderly, efficient, economical, safe, and sustainable. In order to do this, a comprehensive plan will be needed to provide local decision-makers with an overall future direction for the city’s growth and development. Toward this end, the City of Kimball Comprehensive Plan will look 20 years into the future and will address: a) demographic conditions and changes, b) land use, c) transportation, d) community facilities and services, e) economic development, and f) special districts like the downtown area. A key transportation issue will be the future of Trunk Highway 15, as it passes through Kimball.” Harold Skjelbostad, a planning consultant on the Biko Associates team, commented that, “A vitally important element in the planning process will be the citizens of Kimball and neighboring townships. One of the first steps in the study process will be the development of a community vision for the future. We really need the people of Kimball to tell us what they want their community to be. Without their input, we (the consultants) will have to make guesses. “Growth is occurring in Kimball and it will continue to occur. If the community does not have a plan to guide growth, no one can tell what the community will look like 20 years from now. At least, when a community has a plan, it is easier to protect existing investments and to determine where future investments should occur.” The planning process will include three large-scale community meetings to be held between October 2007 and June 2008. More frequent community input will be provided by the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, which will generally meet every-other month during the 10-month process. The first Steering Committee meeting will be held Wednesday, Aug. 22, at city hall. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. and will close at 8:30 p.m. Seats are still available on the committee, which should include 12-15 people. If you are interested in participating on the steering committee, or if you would like more information on the comprehensive plan, call Dianne Robinson, city of Kimball clerk/treasurer, at (320) 398-2725.
