Last Chance For Public Input On St. Cloud Downtown Plan Tuesday

(KNSI) – St. Cloud residents have one final chance to weigh in on the city’s draft downtown plan before it advances toward formal adoption.

The planning commission will hold a public hearing on the draft at its meeting Tuesday, at 6:00 p.m. at city hall. The hearing marks the close of the public comment period that opened last month, when the city unveiled 16 renderings laying out a vision for what key downtown sites could become in the years ahead.

The draft plan was first presented to the public at an open house at the Rivers Edge Convention Center on April 22nd, which drew dozens of residents, business owners and other stakeholders. Attendees circulated through the mezzanine, talking one-on-one with staff and consultants about specific concepts.

The draft plan covers the downtown core and the Division Street corridor. Several prominent sites are featured, including the current Stearns County campus downtown, where county offices and courts will eventually vacate once the new Stearns County Justice Center is built. Drawings envision what redevelopment could look like on that eight-to-nine-acre site once the existing buildings come down. Other drawings focus on the Lady Slipper block, the riverfront area near the Rivers Edge Convention Center, and additional locations along the corridor.

One of the most notable shifts from the city’s last comprehensive plan in 2015 is the emphasis on housing over office space. Community Development Director Matt Glaesman says the post-COVID shift has reshaped the development landscape, with housing now seen as the key to bringing people downtown around the clock, creating an active public realm and making commercial development possible.

Beyond development sites, the draft document also addresses parking, streetscape improvements, wayfinding and signage, and the role of arts in downtown.

Residents who can’t attend Tuesday’s hearing can still submit feedback by emailing planner@ci.stcloud.mn.us.

The draft downtown plan and a separate Division Street subarea plan are both available for review on the city’s planning webpage.

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