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City of Rockville Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code Update
Project Overview
The City of Rockville has a friendly and familiar small town feel that is conveniently nestled just south of St. Cloud. Platted in 1856, Rockville covers 30 square miles and is home to nearly 2,500 people today. The City of Rockville is updating its Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code to develop a cohesive vision and strategy to guide the community for the next 20 years. This plan will provide a strong, flexible guide for evaluating developer proposals, pursuing funding for priority projects, and guiding important decisions.
What is a Comprehensive Plan?
A Comprehensive Plan defines the vision, goals and aspirations for the future growth and development of the community. The plan is intended to identify and locate where land uses should be located. The plan considers population trends, transportation patterns, natural resources, economic development activity and correlating needs for utilities, housing, businesses, as well as parks and open space. It also guides decisions on both public and private investments in infrastructure and facilities. This plan helps the city to identify community priorities and goals while providing implementation strategies for achieving these goals.
What are Zoning Codes?
Rockville's Current Zoning Map
Zoning codes are land use regulations that determine the standards by which development can be built and where development is located. They separate land into different districts or zones of allowable use types. Zoning codes are part of a city's municipal code and must comply with the jurisdiction’s adopted comprehensive plans (vision for future growth). They are often represented by a combination of prescriptive standards like setbacks/lot size/height limits, as well as performance standards like noise/light controls and are accompanied by a zoning map.
Project Update
The City Council and Planning Commission have held five joint workshops to discuss issues and opportunities and review draft policies, goals, maps, and chapters. To gather public input, the city conducted a brief survey and has held several focus groups with business owners, property owners, and planners. Based on the survey responses, the top three issues were infrastructure, agriculture, and parks and trails.
Based on the work so far, the following vision and mission statement have been drafted to guide the planning process.
Draft Vision Statement
A community that is tackling today's challenges while retaining its natural and agricultural history.
Draft Mission Statement:
The city's mission is to support its current farmers and build its tax base by planning for new businesses that provide residents with jobs, goods, services, and recreation.
Coming Soon
The city's next Planning Commission/City Council workshop will be on February 5, 2025, at 6 PM at City Hall, where they will review and discuss the future land use plan. The public is welcome to attend.
Draft Future Land Use
On November 19, 2024, the City held a focus group with property owners and farmers to review a draft future land use plan (See map dated 11/7/24). Nearly 20 people attended, and based on feedback, the following changes were made (see map dates 11/25/24).
To see the 11/7/2024 Map Swipe Right. To see the11/25/24 Map Swipe Left.
To comment on the Future Land Use Map Draft use the form below:
Future Land Use Map Review
Project Timeline
Here's a look at the anticipated project timeline. We'll be collecting public input and providing updates throughout the process, so be sure to check back!
Phase 1: Spring/Summer 2024
- Educate the public on the planning process and gather input to identify issues and opportunities
Phase 2: Summer/Fall 2024
- Compile what we heard, analyze the data, draft comprehensive plan and start updating the zoning code
Phase 3: Spring 2025
- Share draft plan and zoning code updates with the public and seek feedback
- Assist the city with the public hearing and approval process
Maps
The planning process begins by mapping and understanding the city's natural resources.
Land Cover
This map shows the current land uses and vegetative cover. Red indicates development, dark blue shows open water and light blue represents wetlands.
Environmental Resources
This map shows natural resources such as lakes, rivers, wetlands, steep slopes, floodplains, and shoreland. These resources limit the amount of development and are areas to be protected or preserved.
Soil Types
Soils are classified into four main categories: A, B, C, and D, which focus on water drainage, with A being the fastest draining and D being almost impermeable. Water drainage is highly important for many land uses, especially agriculture.
- Group A. Soils having a high infiltration rate (low runoff potential) when thoroughly wet. These consist mainly of deep, well-drained, excessively drained, or gravelly sands.
- Group B. Soils have a moderate infiltration rate when thoroughly wet. These consist chiefly of moderately deep or deep, moderately well-drained, or well-drained soils with moderately fine to coarse texture.
- Group C. Soils have a slow infiltration rate when thoroughly wet. These consist chiefly of soils with a layer that impedes the downward movement of water or soils of moderately fine or fine texture.
- Group D. Soils have a very slow infiltration rate (high runoff potential) when thoroughly wet. These consist chiefly of clays with a high shrink-swell potential, soils with a high-water table, soils with a claypan or clay layer at or near the surface, and soils that are shallow over nearly impervious material.
Know Your Community
- A community of young families with children (<18 years old) make up almost one-quarter of the population.
- Most people have a smart phone and regularly use the internet.
- The community has an educated and diverse workforce. Most people drive 10+ minutes to work.
- The majority of the population owns their homes.
- The community has a modest population growth trend of 0.58%.
Contact
For more information or questions regarding this project please contact:
Robin Caufman, Senior Community Planner at 320-402-0854 or via email at robin.caufman@bolton-menk.com.