Lake Saint Louis Comprehensive Plan: Background
OVERVIEW
Lake Saint Louis is one of the premier communities in the St. Louis region. The City is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. A testament to this high quality of life was the City being named a top 100 ‘City to Live’ by CNN/Money Magazine in 2009 and 2011.
The City’s comprehensive plan will be an opportunity to create a shared community vision for the next twenty years that will keep and enhance the quality of life while attracting continued economic investment in the City.
BENEFITS OF A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The Plan Will Manage for Future Change
While the future cannot be predicted, the City can plan and manage for change. The planning team will examine trends in demographics, workforce, mobility, housing, economic development, and parks and recreation to best position the City to be resilient in adapting to future changes.
The Plan Will Help Keep Lake Saint Louis as a Premier City
Since incorporation in 1975, Lake Saint Louis has grown, without a comprehensive plan, to be one of the premier cities in the region. Maintaining our quality of life as we grow, especially in a challenging economy, requires thoughtful planning for the future.
The Plan Will Create a Shared Community Vision
Comprehensive plans are an opportunity to develop consensus on a community vision and community priorities that will help shape growth in the community for the next 20 years. The planning team will utilize traditional and online engagement techniques to engage the community in creating a shared vision for Lake Saint Louis. The planning team will engage residents in multiple ways to ensure that they are included in the planning process.
PLANNING PROCESS
The planning process will begin in late summer 2016 and last approximately 15 months. A seven member resident steering committee will help guide the process. There will be numerous opportunities for resident input including four open houses, surveys, small group meetings, a website, and social media.
The planning process includes an assessment of existing resources and issues, projections of future conditions and needs, and consideration of collective goals and objectives. The plan will cover topics such as economy and jobs; housing; demographics; transportation; land use; parks, recreation, and open space; utilities; and community facilities and services.
The plan will develop sub-area plans for the Old Downtown area and the Muk Property area (the area west of the Shoppes at Hawks Ridge). The sub-area plans will determine an overall vision for these areas including goals and strategies.
In addition to extensive community engagement throughout the process, the final comprehensive plan will also go through a formal adoption process including a public review period, approval by the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Aldermen.
Common Questions and Answers about the Comprehensive Plan
Q. What is a Comprehensive Plan?
A comprehensive plan is a strategic guide for the community to follow as it considers decisions, both large and small, over the next 20 years in relation to future land use decision-making and the physical development of the City. A comprehensive plan translates a community’s values into specific actions. It is closely integrated with other municipal documents and initiatives.
Q. Who is leading the Comprehensive Plan?
The City has appointed a seven member Steering Committee to help guide the process. The Steering Committee has representatives from the Board of Aldermen, Planning and Zoning Commission, and residents from across the City. The planning team is led by the i5Group, along with Development Strategies and Shockey Consulting Services. The final plan will be available for public review and comment and will be reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council prior to adoption.
Q. How long will the process last?
The planning process will last approximately 15 months. The planning process started in late summer 2016 and will finish in the fall of 2017.
Q. Lake Saint Louis has done well without a comprehensive plan. Why do we need one now?
Since incorporation in 1975, Lake Saint Louis has grown, without a comprehensive plan, to be one of the premier cities in the region. However, a comprehensive plan will have several advantages including developing a consensus on a community vision and community priorities that will help shape growth in the community for the next 20 years.
Q. How can I be involved in the process?
Great question! Public involvement is a very important part of this process. There will be multiple open houses for the public to attend starting in the fall of 2016. An online community survey will take place in the fall of 2016. In addition, the planning team will be meeting with numerous community stakeholders and organizations. Visit
www.MyFutureLakeSaintLouis.com to stay up to date and sign up for the City’s email list. You can share your thoughts and comments via social media with the hashtag #MyFutureLakeSaintLouis.
Q. What is the most important thing I can do to help?
The most important thing you can do to help is by providing your input and comments throughout the process. You can also help spread the word about the planning process to your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors.
Q. How will the Comprehensive Plan be implemented?
The comprehensive plan is a strategic document. A comprehensive plan is not a zoning ordinance, subdivision regulation, a budget, a capital improvement program or other regulatory document. It is meant to be the basis for the preparation of those documents. It lays out a vision for the future growth and development of the community, what the community will be like and look like in the future. At the vision and policy level, it will serve as a guide for community decision making. It addresses both where the City will grow and how the City will grow.
Q. How do I learn more about the comprehensive plan or review materials?
Visit www.MyFutureLakeSaintLouis.com to stay up to date about the plan. The website will include updates about the process, schedule, and materials to download as they become available. You can also contact City Administrator, Paul Markworth, at 636-625-1200.
Stephen Ibendahl, Project Manager
The i5Group
314-265-3178
stephen.ibendahl@thei5group.com
Paul Markworth
City Administrator
City of Lake Saint Louis
636-625-1200
pmarkworth@LakeSaintLouis.com
Download an Overview Brochure