•  Comprehensive Plan
•  Development Guidelines For St. Louis Park
•  Economic Development Goals
•  Public Review Process For Development
•  Zoning Ordinance

Comprehensive Plan
The Comprehensive Plan is the city's official statement that guides development, redevelopment and preservation of the community's resources by establishing policies, plans and programs that govern land use, transportation, community facilities and services.
To arrange to see the Comprehensive Plan, call Community Development at (952) 924-2575

Development Guidelines For St. Louis Park
St. Louis Park's Strategic Plan outlines goals to create an environment for sustainable economic development.. As applicable, St. Louis Park will give priority to business proposals that accomplish the goals listed here.

For more information about the Strategic Plan, contact Greg Hunt at

• (952) 924-2197
• ghunt@stlouispark.org.
  

Implement Vision St. Louis Park Goals

• The project will help the community reach its vision of the future especially Vision St. Louis Park's goals for providing a full range of housing options, promoting a healthy business base, and developing residents' long-term ties to St. Louis Park's people, neighborhoods and institutions. (To see Vision St. Louis Park goals, click on About St. Louis Park > Overview > Vision.)

Enhance Livability

• The principles of Livable Communities are incorporated into the project; additionally, the project brings many of those same livability qualities to surrounding neighborhoods. Livable developments use high quality urban and architectural design to create "human scale" environments that provide opportunities for positive face-to-face interaction. Design is used to integrate land uses, housing styles and socioeconomic groups. The project is accessible to parks, services, shopping and jobs. The project preserves mature trees, preserves or creates open space and, when possible, makes use of creeks, ponds or other natural amenities to enhance attractiveness and provide recreational opportunities.

Enhance Neighborhoods

• The project will have a positive impact on surrounding neighborhoods. It will preserve and/or enhance parks and open space, locally unique physical elements, and anchoring institutions (i.e. schools, houses of worship, civic centers, etc.). Projects will preserve or strengthen the mixture of activities for residents to use and enjoy (shopping, working, schooling, playing and worshipping).

Increase Tax Base

• The project will increase St. Louis Park's tax base. Additional priority is given to projects sited in areas experiencing declining property values.

Improve Infrastructure

• The project brings needed infrastructure improvements to the water/sewer, streets and telecommunications systems.

Protect the Environment

• The project will remediate existing environmental contamination and will not create new contamination. Additionally, it should save resources for the future and sustain, rather than consume, resources.

Enhance Transportation

• The project will enhance mobility and increase the ability for residents to safely access local amenities. Projects preserve or enhance the "walkablity" of neighborhoods and reduce the need for automobile trips by providing interconnected walking, bicycling and public transit opportunities.

Bolster Occupancy

• The project is proposed for a property that is vacant or underused.

Enhance Building Function

• The project would replace buildings that are inadequate for current business needs or are functionally obsolete.

Improve Maintenance

• The project is proposed for a building or site that is not well maintained or is no longer safe and/or functionally viable.

Improve Ownership/Management Status

• The project is proposed for an area that has experienced significant turnover in ownership, management and/or tenancy.

Bring About Needed Zoning Changes

• The project brings appropriate zoning changes to an area where non-conforming zoning uses exist.

Resolve Land Use Conflicts

• The project will resolve conflicts with adjacent land uses.

Meet Market Demand

• The project is in line with current market demand and/or is proposed for an area where developer interest is significant.

Meet Development Potential

• The project's building value-to-land value ratio is less than two to one.

Relate to Adjacent Development

• The project, by its proximity, can be tied into and enhanced by other recently completed projects.

Act as a Catalyst

• By both quality and proximity, business projects will be a catalyst for additional redevelopment and housing projects will be a catalyst for home improvements or remodeling in nearby neighborhoods.

Leverage Public Funds Effectively

• Public dollars, if used, will be offset by an increase in the tax base.

Create Jobs

• The project creates jobs or is proposed for an area that has the potential to attract new employers that provide household-supporting jobs.

Economic Development Goals
The Economic Development Strategic Plan set three major business goals for St. Louis Park.

• Foster the development, redevelopment and revitalization of St. Louis Park's business centers.
• Retain St. Louis Park's base of existing, high quality businesses
• Recruit businesses that are compatible with and complimentary to St. Louis Park's existing businesses

Public Review Process For Development
In the course of a development project, these public bodies may review your proposal. For more information about these groups, click on City Hall > Government.

Planning Commission -

• Reviews development plans and advises the City Council on all aspects of growth and development in St. Louis Park. It reviews amendments to the comprehensive plan, considers proposals to change zoning and platting, and discusses other community development issues.

Board of Zoning Appeals -

• Decides appeals to zoning, variance and permit issues.

Economic Development Authority

• Promotes economic growth in St. Louis Park. City staff, under the direction of the EDA members, handle business assistance activities, tax increment financing, redevelopment project assistance, public/private financial packages, real estate transactions, commercial rehabilitation/small business loans and other economic development activities.

City Council

• Sets the policy for the City of St. Louis Park and makes the final decision on recommendations made by the Planning Commission or City staff.

Zoning Ordinance
Zoning regulations govern land use in St. Louis Park and are detailed in the City Code. The code is available online as a convenience to citizens and the business community. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of online material, the only official edition of the City Code is the printed version maintained by the City Clerk. For more information, please call the Administration Department at (952) 924-2525. View City Code

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