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Here is a list of Projects funded or partially funded with local option sales tax dollars since 1983.  Every time Rochester has voted on this we have approved the sales tax by better than a 2-1 margin.  I hope that this continues in 2012.  Big thanks to Gary Neumann for keep track of these projects. Read the rest of this entry »

I was sent this link to an outstanding piece of work done done Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.  This is a guide on how to do dense design right and why it matters:

I am just posting the link as the file is 2.5 MB.

http://www.morpc.org/pdf/morpc_density_brochure_CS3.pdf

Some Highlights:

Density, done right, is a result of good principles and planning that can provide our daily needs and amenities efficiently without appearing cluttered or feeling crowded.

and

Sprawl has costs. When houses are further apart on larger lots, they require longer stretches of road pavement than are needed to serve the same number of households on a denser street.  Likewise, it requires more tax dollars to build and maintain sewer and water lines, and greater  cost for private gas, electric and other utility lines. Those same factors increase the distance
to schools, stores and other amenities. They also increase development costs – and therefore the price of homes. Suburban and township governments grow to accommodate the service needs of new housing and population, while old central city governments still have
the same land area to serve, but with less population and revenue. Current patterns of development add to the size and cost of government. They also lead to loss of farmland: Land that is easiest to develop also tends to be land that is most productive in growing food.

Just as sprawl has many drawbacks, density has benefits.  It allows compact and efficient use of land; efficient delivery of services; ease of travel on foot; and vibrant activity. It can draw a community together rather than push people apart.

I would add that perhaps the biggest cost of sprawl is actually public safety.  These facilities are built and located based on response times and a 10 acre lot really does consume 100 times more response area than a 0.1 acre lot.

It’s coming if current trends continue.  If the growth in gasoline prices between 1990 and today were to continue we would see gasoline prices around $9.00 per gallon in 2025. Read the rest of this entry »

For the first time the Midwest Regional Rail Plan show Rochester as the primary high speed rail route between Chicago and MSP.  About time…  Rochester is the clear choice considering the existing route can’t handle high speed rail and offers nowhere near the return on investment.

http://www.midwesthsr.org/vision

For 2011 I will be serving as chair of ROCOG (Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments).  This working group includes representation from Rochester, Olmsted County, Smaller Communities in Olmsted County, Townships, the School District, and often has individuals from MNDOT and other organizations present. Read the rest of this entry »

Come Learn about Electric Cars.  April 26th, 3-5PM at Cascade Meadow Center (2900 19th Street NW, Rochester, MN).

Flyer

I made the statement that the addition of retailers at Shoppes on Maine has not increased jobs in Rochester.  I have met with Tom Hexum and Ron Schultz of Maine Street Development.  They stated and I agree that there are new job at Shoppes on Maine.  However if these are simply a shuffling of existing jobs there is not a new benefit. Read the rest of this entry »

Between snow shoveling shifts, I think I will post some updates today.  At the last City Council meeting the City Council adopted the ROCOG 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan.  This plan is updated every 5 years and lays out the future of transportation in Rochester. Read the rest of this entry »