Agenda - Planning Commission - 03/06/2014

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Fostering the conditions for shared economic vitality by balancing major investments across the region To advance prosperity across the Twin Cities area, the Council will intentionally consider regional balance — that is, balancing its investments and activities across the region —in its planning, operations, and investment decisions. The Council's intent is that no part of the region is consistently favored or consistently ignored. The issue of regional balance has several multiple dimensions; sometimes the issue is north and east vs. southwest, other times the issue is suburban edge vs. suburban vs. urban center. Because development patterns vary across the region, advancing regional balance does not guarantee that all parts of the region will receive the same level or intensity of investments, activity or attention. Rather, advancing regional balance will be a consideration that helps all parts of the region receive investments that promote prosperity at their stage and level of development. Protecting natural resources that are the foundation of prosperity Location is only one of the Twin Cities region's attributes that create economic prosperity; our metropolitan area is also endowed with rich natural resources, such as soil, water and aggregate that help make our region prosperous. Prime agricultural soils support the region's farm economy and sustain local food production. Agricultural land creates economic opportunity for a variety of residents, ranging from farmers growing crops on century -old family farms to new Americans bringing their farming experience into small-scale local food production serving farmers' markets. About a half -million acres in the region, one -quarter of the region's land, are planned, guided and zoned to maintain agriculture as the primary long-term land use —mainly in a crescent -shaped area through Dakota, Scott and Carver Counties. The Council supports preserving agricultural land to protect the agricultural economy in the region, to provide economic opportunities for farmers, and to promote local food production. The Council limits urbanization in rural areas to reduce development pressure on farmland and to avoid the premature extension of roads and sewers. Some of the region's agricultural lands are identified as part of the Council's long-term service area for sewered development only after 2040. This designation gives the Council greater authority to enable long-term agricultural uses and avoid premature development until urban densities are needed to accommodate regional growth. The Council acknowledges that local jurisdictions are best -positioned to determine how best to guide agricultural land within their borders. From its role in the early historical development of our region, water is a critical prerequisite of regional growth and prosperity. Access to clean water through both groundwater and the Mississippi River will be a competitive advantage for our metropolitan area during the next century when many other regions around the globe will struggle to provide clean water at a reasonable cost. Illustrating the economic importance of water supply, the City of Minneapolis has calculated that a shutdown of its water supply system would cost businesses over $65,000,000 a day. (2013 analysis) The Council's long-term approach to planning water sustainability gives our region a competitive edge —particularly considering that other regions across the country are planning for water supplies in days or weeks, not decades and generations. The Council's regional vision and approach to managing our regional water resources consider the interrelationships of land use, development patterns, transportation and other regional services, and water resource DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Last revised: February 21, 2014 14