The city of Duluth will hold six public community visioning meetings this month to hear residents' ideas on how the city should look in the future.
The meetings are part of process of developing a new Unified Development Code to replace Duluth's 51-year-old zoning ordinance. The current ordinance segregates shops, homes, businesses and manufacturing areas in Duluth. The new plan will create a unified zoning code, allowing builders to more easily construct spaces that mesh together where people live, shop and work.
The development code will incorporate contemporary approaches to neighborhood revitalization, mixed uses and natural resource protection regulations. Promoting sustainability is one of the code's key themes. The consultant working on the plan has identified a number of ways a new code can begin to address this issue by reducing energy consumption, encouraging renewable energy generation, encouraging urban food production and reducing vehicle miles traveled.
The development code will include regulations tailored for certain parts of the city.
Monday's meeting will cover the Grand Avenue and Central Avenue area in West Duluth. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in Mr. D's Banquet Room, 5622 Grand Ave.
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Tuesday's meeting will cover the E. Superior St. area in Lakeside/Lester Park. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Lakeside/Lester Park Community Club, 106 N. 54th Ave. E.
Wednesday's meeting will cover the London Road area from 12th Avenue East to 21st Avenue East. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in City Hall Room 402, 411 W. First St.
Thursday's meeting will cover the downtown, Canal Park and Central Hillside areas. The meeting begins at 8 a.m. in the Lyric Room at the Holiday Center, 207 W. Superior St.
The June 29 meeting will cover the West Superior Street area in Lincoln Park/West End. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Harrison Community Center, 3002 W. Third St.
The June 30 meeting will cover the downtown, Canal Park and Central Hillside areas. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Central Hillside Community Center, 12 E. Fourth St.
Late last year the city awarded a $260,000 contract to Clarion Associates of Colorado to develop a new zoning code and unified development code. The city set aside $150,000 for the project in 2007; the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation provided $70,000 and the Minnesota Lake Superior Coastal Program kicked in $40,000.
