Waite Park Holds Open House on Comprehensive Plan

(KNSI) – Waite Park held an open house on Monday so residents could get a look at the latest comprehensive plan and pass along their two cents.

The 114-page document has been in the works for two years and will guide the city as it expands. Waite Park Planning and Community Development Director Jon Noerenberg told KNSI News the plan will be a starting point for new development. “This sort of document really gives us some kind of a guiding principle to follow when we’re looking at major changes for the city or what do we do with our available land. And what do we want to be as far as a community for our residents and for visitors.”

The plan will be especially helpful for developers from out of state. He says they’re focusing on drawing in more businesses and increasing housing. Noerenberg explained that the document will help steer the city’s development for five to ten years. “We don’t want it to just sit on a shelf and gather dust after it’s done. We want this to be a tool for the city that we can present to developers. We want to put it front and center for anyone interested in coming to the community.”

People can comment before the Waite Park Planning Commission and city council adopt the comprehensive plan. Those two government bodies will likely vote on the document in November and December.

To comment and read the plan, click here.

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