Agenda - Planning Commission - 03/06/2014

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younger residents will be ready to move in. Businesses also place a high value on livability. Whether it is a large company seeking a location for an office or a talented entrepreneur looking to grow an innovative business, decision -makers want to know their employees can get to work and are happy living here. Promoting healthy communities and active living through planning and investments Land use and planning decisions can promote active living and healthy communities. Populations living in walkable places are more active and therefore healthier than populations living in car -dependent areas. Considering the immense costs of obesity and sedentary lifestyles to our health care system, promoting active living through planning decisions provides a key opportunity to improve both livability and our region's health outcomes. Land use decisions can create opportunities for people to walk or bike to their destinations rather than drive door-to-door, provide active outdoor recreational options, and offer access to open space. To promote healthy communities and active living through planning and public investments, the Council will work with its partners to: • Incorporate active living considerations when evaluating competitive funding proposals, infrastructure investments and operations; • Encourage access to safe and healthy food. Increasing access to nature and outdoor recreation through regional parks and trails Our regional parks are essential in keeping our region at the top of national livability rankings. The Twin Cities area's 59 regional parks, park reserves and special recreation features plus over 300 miles of regional trails showcase the unique landscapes of the region and provide year-round recreation. Our residents have consistently singled out the region's parks, trails and natural environment as the most attractive feature of the region.' Drawing 45.8 million annual visits, the Regional Parks System provides access to natural space that contributes to physical and emotional well-being. Many of our region's most well-known and iconic sites— the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, Como Zoo and Conservatory, Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Bunker Hills Regional Park, Elm Creek Park Reserve, and Lake Elmo Park Reserve —are part of the regional parks system. The Council will collaborate with the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission, regional park agencies and State partners to: • Expand the regional park system to conserve, maintain and connect natural resources identified as being of high quality or having regional importance; • Provide a comprehensive regional park and trail system that preserves high -quality natural resources, increases climate resiliency, fosters healthy communities, and enhances quality of life in the region; • Promote expanded multimodal access to regional parks, regional trails and the transit network, where appropriate. ' For more information, see the Metro Residents Survey. DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Last revised: February 21, 2014 25