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City Plans
These are the individual plans for the City of Northfield. Click a button to view a PDF of the plan that you've chosen.
Comprehensive Plan
Cities are granted the authority to regulate land use by the Municipal Planning Act. For those cities engaged in land use regulation, the Municipal Planning Act provides the framework and road map that all cities must follow.
A comprehensive plan is an expression of the community’s vision for the future and a strategic map to reach that vision. It may include a compilation of policy statements, goals, standards, and maps for guiding the physical, social and economic development, both private and public, of the municipality and its environs, and may include, but is not limited to, the following: statements of policies, goals, standards, a land use plan, including proposed densities for development, a community facilities plan, a transportation plan, and recommendations for plan execution.
For many cities, creating a comprehensive plan is the first step in adopting zoning and subdivision regulations for the city. As a result, the comprehensive plan normally lays out a vision for the city’s future land development and land use, identifying where growth should occur, the type of growth that is allowed in various areas of the city, and the density of such growth.
Before adopting, or amending, a comprehensive plan the city’s planning commission must hold at least one public hearing.
A city may develop and approve other types of plans, but the comprehensive plan is the overarching plan for the community and the primary basis for land use, development, zoning and subdivision regulations used to carry out the community’s vision.
The City of Northfield's Comprehensive Plan is a document that outlines long-range plans for managing the growth of the community. The plan provides a framework for establishing policies, standards and principles pertaining to the city’s planning, zoning and public service activities.
The plan was updated November 2008 after an extensive revision process. A hard-copy of the plan is on file at Northfield City Hall in the City Clerk's Office and the Planning and Zoning Office and at the Northfield Public Library.
City Environment & Conservation
An important part of Northfield’s future vision is the preservation and enhancement of the community’s environmental resources. The natural environment will be protected, enhanced and better integrated in the community. Environmentally sensitive and sustainable practices will be integrated into new developments and redeveloped areas. Rural character of certain areas of the community will be protected.
View PlanParks, Open Spaces & Trail System
The mission of this plan is to promote a high quality of life in Northfield by providing a balanced and sustainable system of parks, natural open spaces, athletic facilities, and trails consistent with the historic sense of place in the community. Its vision is to preserve the sense of place and livability of the community while accommodating growth and evolving recreational and social trends.
View PlanComprehensive Sanitary Sewer Plan
Developed for Northfield and Dundas, this plan examines the existing sanitary sewer collection facilities, provides guidance for modifications to the existing system and provides guidance for the expansion of the cities’ trunk sanitary sewer systems to serve the development of the cities.
View PlanWest Sanitary Sewer Interceptor Study
View PlanComprehensive Transportation Plan
This plan evaluates the existing and future transportation needs and provides the framework for decisions regarding the nature of infrastructure improvements necessary to achieve safety, accessibility, mobility, and performance of the existing and future transportation system.
View PlanClimate Action Plan
The City of Northfield is committed to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030 and being a 100% carbon-free community by 2040. This plan includes strategies to enhance the resilience of the community through cultivating and supporting a resilient population, forward-looking stormwater management and infrastructure planning, 21st century electric grid updates, and supporting local food efforts.
View Climate Action PlanComprehensive Economic Development Plan
This plan outlines how to make economic development a priority while balancing the community’s desire to protect its identity as a “freestanding” community and maintain its sense of place. Goals include active promotion of economic development by increasing the availability of commercial land, aggressive business recruitment, and talent attraction and re-positioning Northfield in relationship both to the Twin Cities and to its smaller neighboring communities.
View PlanNorthfield Business & Industrial Park
View Plan