Envision Stillwater 2045 Plan Clears First Hurdle With Unanimous Vote

The Stillwater Planning Commission unanimously approved the Envision Stillwater 2045 Comprehensive Plan on Monday, sending the city's roadmap for the next two decades to the City Council for final consideration.

The five-member commission voted 5-0 to recommend adoption of the plan after hearing a presentation from consultants with Freese and Nichols, who worked with city staff and community members for more than two years to develop the document.

The comprehensive plan establishes a vision and goals for Stillwater's development through 2045, addressing land use, transportation and mobility, housing and neighborhoods, economic development, community character, and infrastructure. The document will guide city decision-making on zoning, development, and capital improvements.

"This is a big milestone for this project," Dawn Thomas, an urban planner with Freese and Nichols, told commissioners during the Nov. 18 meeting.

The plan's vision statement describes Stillwater as "an innovative community that deeply cares for one another, cultivating a strong sense of belonging. It is a desirable destination for residents, visitors, and businesses, cherishing deep-rooted connections, prioritizing education, and radiating a warm, friendly character."

Four guiding principles support that vision: Connect Stillwater, focusing on accessibility and social connections; Thrive Stillwater, promoting economic resilience and public health; Realize Stillwater, emphasizing responsible planning and policy; and Identify Stillwater, highlighting the city's unique cultural institutions and aesthetic.

The plan emerged from extensive public engagement that began in fall 2023. The city hosted three public open houses, including a February 2024 kickoff that drew more than 80 people, a mid-project land use workshop, and a final event at Block 34 in October. The project website received more than 4,000 visits, and 175 people completed an online survey.

A Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee met five times throughout the process to guide plan development, review draft content, and prioritize implementation actions.

Jake Lange, a project planner with Freese and Nichols, said the plan includes mixed-use development categories that would allow residential and commercial uses to coexist in the same buildings or developments, particularly along Main Street and in other key districts.

"We have quite a few mixed-use development categories," Lange told commissioners. "That's going to be really useful for Main Street."

Planning Commission Chair Jana Phillips praised the inclusion of mixed-use options. "I greatly appreciate the added thing from the map that we have that's 20 plus years old to this one, having all of the opportunity to consider mixed-use," Phillips said. "I really think that is going to allow us to achieve a lot of these goals."

The plan includes an implementation table that assigns timeframes, priority levels, and responsible parties to specific action items. Short-term actions should be completed within five years, mid-term actions within six to 12 years, and long-term actions beyond 12 years.

Maps from the Envision Stillwater 2045 Comprehensive Plan show the city's future land use designations, thoroughfare classifications, and trails plan.

Among the short-term priorities: establishing mixed-use and multifamily regulations for a dining and entertainment district along Main Street between Sixth and 10th avenues, developing a parking management program, and rezoning properties to align with the future land use plan.

Development Services Director David Barth told commissioners the city has already begun work on updating its zoning code to align with the comprehensive plan's recommendations. The city approved a contract with a planning consultant to update the code and hopes to have a new code adopted within a year.

"We're very excited about that process," Barth said. "We're already getting started on what this comp plan is kind of leading us to do."

A Message from visit Stillwater

The Holidays are here in America's Friendliest College Town!
And yes… they brought cookies. Probably.

Stillwater turns the festive dial all the way up this time of year — twinkling lights everywhere, parades that just keep getting better, shopping that feels like a treasure hunt, and cozy gatherings where everybody knows somebody who knows somebody.

If you’re looking for holiday magic, we basically have it stockpiled.

🎅 “Santa Would Click This”

Commissioner Mike Shanahan thanked the consulting team for providing "a very important and useful tool" to the city and its commissions. Phillips echoed those thanks, saying the consultants "listened to the City of Stillwater and its residents."

The plan will replace the C3 Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted in 2013. City staff recommended approval of the new plan.

The City Council will hold its first reading of the plan on Dec. 1 and a second reading on Dec. 15. If approved, the plan will take effect immediately and guide city planning decisions for the next 20 years.

📺 Watch the presentation to Planning Commission