Saint Paul is a city on the move and this is an exciting time for us. Since I took office last year, we’ve had the chance to celebrate new housing developments, business openings, park and recreation center upgrades, and so much more. This momentum is largely due to the vision of St. Paul’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan, which set policies and goals for economic growth, housing, parks, water resources, and the basis of every planning decision over the last decade. Recent and major additions to our city such as the Green Line and Snelling-Midway Redevelopment, including Allianz Field, are the direct results of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan.

Right now, we’re coming to the end of the multi-year process of creating our new, guiding document that will set the course for our collective future – St. Paul’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Led by our city Department of Planning and Economic Development, our 2040 Comprehensive Plan is informed by more than three years of community engagement, encompassing feedback from more than 2,000 residents, 17 district councils, six focus groups, three economic development organizations and more than 70 community events.

To those who provided feedback, thank you for telling us what you want our city to look like for you and your family in the years to come. We heard that you want to be able to age in your neighborhoods; have access to quality jobs; walk to local businesses, libraries, recreation centers and parks; obtain affordable housing with nearby public transportation, and feel safe, welcome and included in our community.

I am proud of our City staff who have translated our vision into a guide for the future. The 2040 plan includes focused development in key Neighborhood Nodes like Phalen Village, where residents can access affordable housing, and meet their daily needs within walking distance to amenities and services such as groceries, health clinics and laundromats. The plan includes a pedestrian- and bicycle-first approach to our transportation system, ensuring complete, safe streets. And it supports a much-needed, full continuum of housing, from homeless shelters to affordable homes, with a strong focus on minimizing displacement in neighborhoods close to transportation. Related Articles Paul Kuntz: Prioritize public safety, keep every St. Paul police officer in the budget, continue to diversify the force

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As we near the adoption of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, I encourage everyone to invest in our city’s future by submitting a public comment to the City Council this coming Wednesday, May 15, at 3:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, on the third floor of City Hall, 15 West Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul 55102. Written comments can be submitted to Contact-Council@ci.stpaul.mn.us.

This plan is for all of us, and I look forward to adding it to our tool kit as we work together to build a St. Paul for our children and grandchildren.

Melvin Carter is the mayor of St. Paul. Learn more about the 2040 Comprehensive Plan at stpaul.gov/stpaul4all.