Comprehensive Plan Update

Eureka Township is in the process of updating its comprehensive plan, as required by the Metropolitan Council. Scroll down this page or choose one of the links below for information about the update:

Existing Comprehensive Plan

Eureka Township adopted its current comprehensive plan on December 8, 2003. You can get a copy of the document in any of the following ways:

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The Update Process

The comprehensive plan update process formally began with the appointment of the Stategic Vision Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC), which started work on a “vision” for the Township in September 2006. After more than a year of work, the CAC submitted its final report to the planning commission and town board in October 2007.

The Town Board appointed a 2030 Comprehensive Plan Planning Committee in January 2008, which is now responsible for taking the CAC report, reports from previous citizen task forces, and input from the public, and preparing a comprehensive plan for the Township. The committee will work with the consulting firm TKDA throughout this process.

Citizens will continue to have opportunities for input in the process through the township website, at open houses, and at public hearings on the Comprehensive Plan.

The update process will follow this general schedule:                 

  • January through June 2008—Comprehensive Plan Planning Committee works on a draft plan with planning consulting firm TKDA. The committee will meet monthly and will hold two open houses during this time to gather public input on the draft.

  • Summer 2008—Plan is finalized and submitted to the Planning Commission for a public hearing.

  • Fall 2008—As required by law, the Comprehensive Plan is submitted for review and comment to neighboring local governments and agencies such as school districts, watershed districts, and Dakota County.

  • Winter 2008—The Township may revise the plan based on comments received from the public hearing or from local governments and agencies. The Town Board approves a final draft of the Comprehensive Plan for submission to Met Council by December 2008.

  • Spring/Summer 2009—Met Council has 240 days to approve or reject the Comprehensive Plan.

  • Summer/Fall 2009—Township formally adopts approved Comp Plan and begins update of ordinances to implement it (or, if the Met Council rejects the plan, continues revising it until the Met Council approves)

2030 Comprehensive Plan Planning Committee

In January 2008, the Town Board appointed a 2030 Comprehensive Plan Planning Committee, which is responsible for preparing a comprehensive plan for the Township. The committee will work with the consulting firm TKDA throughout this process. The committee’s meetings are open to the public. Check the township calendar for the next meeting date.

Committee Members

  • Cory Behrendt (town board supervisor)
  • Sharon Buckley (planning commission chair, former CAC member)
  • Mike Greco (former planning commission chair)
  • Kenny Miller (planning commissioner)
  • Ken Olstad (planning commissioner)
  • Jeff Otto (town board supervisor, former CAC member)
  • Jim Sauber (former CAC chair)
  • Nancy Sauber (planning commissioner)
  • Vince Mako (planning commissioner)

Committee Meeting Summaries and Work Materials

January 16, 2008—Kickoff Meeting and Review of Background Report
Materials: Meeting Summary (PDF), Work Schedule (PDF), Background Report (6.9 MB PDF)

January 30, 2008—Chub Lake Landowners Stakeholder Meeting
Materials: Invitation (PDF), Summary of Comments (2.2 MB PDF)

February 12, 2008—Natural Resources
Materials: Meeting Summary (PDF), Natural Resources Report (2.4 MB PDF)

March 18, 2008—Natural Resources; Land Use
Materials: Meeting Summary (PDF), Chapter 1—Vision and Context (draft) (3 MB PDF); Chapter 2—Natural, Agricultural, and Cultural Resources (draft) (13.6 MB PDF)

April 8, 2008—Land Use
Materials: Meeting Summary (PDF), Chapter 2—Natural, Agricultural, and Cultural Resources (draft) (15.3 MB PDF), Chapter 3—Land Use (draft) (380 KB PDF), 2030 Land Use Map (draft) (140 KB)

April 28, 2008 (Open House)
Materials: Invitation (PDF); Ch 3 Land Use Plan (draft) (1.5 MB PDF)

May 13, 2008 (Transportation)
Materials: Agenda; Ch 4 Parks, Trails, and Recreation (draft, PDF); Ch 5 Transportation (draft, PDF); Open House Comments (PDF); Open House issues raised (MS Word); Website feedback (PDF); Meeting Summary (MS Word)

June 10, 2008 (Water Resources, Implementation)
Material: Agenda; Ch 2—Natural, Agricultural, and Cultural Resources (draft); Ch 3—Land Use (draft); Ch 4—Parks, Trails, and Recreation (draft); Ch 5—Transportation (draft); Ch 6—Water Resources (draft); Ch 7—Implementation (draft)

June 25, 2008 (Open House)
Materials: Invitation (PDF); Ch 2—Natural, Agricultural, and Cultural Resources (draft); Ch 3—Land Use (draft); Ch 4—Parks, Trails, and Recreation (draft); Ch 5—Transportation (draft); Ch 6—Water Resources (draft); Ch 7—Implementation (draft)

Draft Comprehensive Plan for Review by neighboring communities or potentially affected jurisdiction.

Comprehensive Plans: Frequently Asked Questions

As Yogi Berra once said, “You’ve got to be careful if you don't know where you’re going, because you might not get there.” One way communities can ensure that they know both where they’re going AND how to get there is to maintain a good comprehensive plan. Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about comprehensive plans

What is a comprehensive plan?

A comprehensive plan is a written document that identifies the goals, objectives, and policies that guide the long-term growth and development of a community. The plan also helps to clarify the relationship between the community and the larger Twin Cities region, and ensure that local plans are consistent with regional systems for such as things as transportation, water resources, and parks.

Is a comprehensive plan required?

Yes. Minnesota Law requires every municipality and county within the seven-county metropolitan area to prepare and submit a comprehensive plan to the Metropolitan Council for review and, if necessary, for appropriate corrective actions (Minn. Stat. 473.86-862).

Why is the township updating its comprehensive plan now?

By state statute, communities are required to update their comprehensive plan and submit it to the Met Council for review every 10 years in the years ending with an 8. Eureka’s update is due to the Met Council no later than December 2008.

What requirements does the Met Council have for a community’s comprehensive plan?

The comprehensive plan must address the issues of land use, transportation, water resource management, and parks and open space. In addition, the plan must be consistent with both the Met Council’s 2030 Regional Development Framework and its “system statement” for Eureka Township.

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Document Library

Below are links to documents and reports related to the comprehensive plan update. If you find other resources that you think should be posted here, please let us know.

Metropolitan Council Documents and Reports

  • Local Planning Handbook—Published by the Metropolitan Council, this handbook is intended to help local municipalities in developing and amending their comprehensive plans.

  • System Statement for Eureka Township—This document is required by state law and is intended to help communities update their local comprehensive plans. The system statement is customized for each community and includes forecasts of population, households, and employment, as well as information about how regional plans for transportation, aviation, water resources, and regional parks and open space will affect the community. (System Statements for other surrounding communities can be found on the Metropolitan Council’s website.)

  • 2030 Regional Development Framework—Adopted by the Metropolitan Council in December 2004, the Framework is intended to help ensure the orderly, economical development of the seven-county area and the efficient use of four regional systems: transportation, aviation, water resources (including wastewater collection and treatment) and regional parks and open space.

Eureka Township Documents and Reports

Other Documents and Reports