Land and water are essential for sustaining all life. We recognize that planning for the region is about more than accommodating a growing human population, but also about respecting the integrity and needs of all living beings in the region. This approach to growth management emphasizes the importance of stewardship and interconnectedness. By acknowledging and respecting this connection, a broad and shared understanding of the impact humans have on the environment and all living beings within it can change the relationship between development, people, and the environment. Development doesn’t have to disturb or disrupt, but instead can care for and protect the region’s assets, both natural and human.

To achieve this balance, regional growth requires an orderly and efficient approach to land development to meet evolving and expanding needs. A development pattern that reduces the amount of land used to accommodate growth supports this outcome by leveraging the region’s existing resources and limiting impacts to existing habitats. These land use patterns exist throughout the region in cities and townships of all sizes.

Directing growth within local governments to areas where infrastructure already exists promotes efficient use of available infrastructure capacity in the urban and rural service areas and reduces the need for infrastructure expansion. The concentration of growth in existing service areas also prevents premature development of agricultural areas and destruction of natural systems. Managing growth in this manner allows our region to preserve its agricultural economy and rural lifestyles while accommodating the needs of residents and businesses.

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Land use and transportation are closely interrelated – changes in land use affect transportation; changes in transportation affect how land can be used. Transportation systems connect people to housing, work, services, and recreation opportunities. The region is well-served by an existing system of extensive roadways which provide connections for people choosing or able to use a personal vehicle. A car-centric transportation system which is well connected with uses and services in proximity to an individual’s daily needs provides opportunities for choices in travel options which can help to decrease driving. Both planning and investment need to be coordinated to ensure thoughtful growth and development while continuing to serve people’s mobility needs throughout the region.

The region also has a robust network of existing and planned regional transit, bicycle, and walking/rolling infrastructure responding to increasingly diverse travel preferences and needs. Many residents use these options for some or all their daily travel needs due to cost, ability, health goals or simple preference. Additional housing, jobs, and services in places that support these travel modes can have many benefits, including:

Increased accessibility of the region for those without access to a personal vehicle.

Reduced need for vehicle trips and/or their cost and duration.

Reduced GHG emissions related to transportation and land use.

Efficacy of regional investment in regional transit/bicycling infrastructure.

Increased positive health outcomes due to greater physical activity.

Places well-served by transit, bicycle, and pedestrian infrastructure can be identified in several ways. Comprehensive plans and other local plans often call out these places specifically. Transit Market Areas, an analysis maintained at the Met Council, identify areas with density, walkability, and levels of car ownership that favor various levels of transit service. Population analysis such as age (youth/seniors), ability, income, and personal preferences can also identify areas with likely non-automobile using residents.

Communities in the region can support, reinforce and create these areas through planning and implementation that encourages additional density around activity centers and along corridors, a greater mix of uses, and improvement to the walkability and livability of the area. A critical piece of local planning is the development of interconnected local streets networks that provide more opportunities to support travel by modes other than a car. The design of the networks, the street layout, the relationship with the surrounding land uses, and the space for people to travel without a car is important in creating effective and safe places for people.

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Peoples’ experiences of the places in which they live, work, and recreate reflect the livability of the region. Feelings of safety and connection in one’s community promote a sense of belonging and ownership, offering residents access to many of the things they desire close to home. Planning for future growth presents the opportunity to design places where new and existing residents can gather, interact, and connect. Communities can use these spaces to celebrate local culture and history through events that bring together people from different backgrounds. While community connection impacts feelings of safety within a community, land use decisions also create a built environment that supports safety, physical activity, and access to amenities and services, contributing to the notion that residents can conveniently access many of their needs and desires within their own community.

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Abundant natural systems contribute to the vibrancy of our region, but stewardship of these regional assets has historically conflicted with growth and development. The Met Council promotes development and land use stewardship that integrates natural systems in design and implementation. This requires a balancing of natural systems protection, restoration, and integration with development practices for mutual benefit. Although regional parks, conservation areas, and lakes and rivers stand out as obvious focus areas, preservation and restoration of natural systems must also take place at a more local and site-specific scale. Smaller scale efforts may include implementing environmentally sensitive design practices, integrating green infrastructure, remeandering streams, restoring wetlands, and reducing impervious surfaces. Integrating aspects of the natural environment into urbanized areas helps create livable areas and desirable places to visit, while making sure that biodiversity is enhanced through establishment of wildlife corridors. On a larger scale, protecting contiguous areas of high-quality natural systems from development helps preserve habitat corridors across the region and maintain regional biodiversity.

Historically inequitable land use planning has had a disparate impact on our region. Discriminatory land use planning practices have perpetuated systemic, racial inequalities, resulting in limited access to resources, opportunities, and fair housing options for Indigenous people, Black communities, and communities of color. Inflexible low-density residential land use categories often mandate large lot sizes and prohibit even low-density multi-family housing, making it unaffordable to many. Discriminatory lending practices, such as redlining, systematically denied mortgages to people of color, particularly those living in predominantly non-white neighborhoods. Single-family land use planning played a role in this process by restricting the types of housing available in these areas, further entrenching racial segregation. By concentrating affluent residents in predominantly single-family neighborhoods, while restricting affordable housing options elsewhere, land use planning contributed to racial segregation.

The housing affordability crisis that persists in our region limits people from choosing the location and type of housing in which they want to live. The issue is harder felt for people with disabilities or those who use housing vouchers, because they are already severely limited in their housing options. Council research has shown that single family neighborhoods, which are limited to a single type of housing product, dominate the residential landscape. The lack of residential diversity within neighborhoods limits the ability of residents to stay in their chosen neighborhoods as their lifestyle and needs change.

Residential land use categories that support more than one type of housing product offers a variety of housing types and accommodates the needs of a diverse populations, including large families, immigrants, and seniors, all within one neighborhood. By providing a mix of housing options, including single-family homes, townhouses, duplexes, or apartments, communities can offer affordable housing choices to a broader range of residents and help prevent socio-economic segregation to ensure that individuals of all income levels can access housing within the community.

By embracing equitable development practices in land use planning and policymaking, the needs and preferences of all residents are integrated into the built form. Planning for a diverse housing stock supports housing choice by providing options for all ages, incomes, and abilities. Lower cost units help meet affordable housing needs, while housing variety allows people to transition to housing that better suit lifestyle changes over time. Inclusive housing options for diverse populations, including seniors, people with disabilities, and multigenerational households, involves creating housing that accommodates different family structures and individual needs. By offering diverse housing options, including affordable and senior housing, near essential services, transportation nodes, employment centers, and recreational amenities, communities foster accessibility and convenience for all residents, regardless of ability, age, financial status, race, tribal affiliation, or family size.

The region must plan to support housing options and services for those who are most vulnerable to housing insecurity. As the population ages, there is a growing need for housing that is accessible, affordable, and designed to meet the unique needs of older adults. For people with disabilities, accessible housing options are essential for individuals to live independently. These housing options must be integrated within communities, close to supportive services, healthcare facilities, culturally responsive social services, and recreational programs, to ensure that residents are protected from isolation in their communities and have access to essential services.

Revitalizing and strengthening communities at the neighborhood level, along with repurposing existing vacant or underutilized buildings, fosters a sense of community pride and belonging by improving the functionality of and cultural connection to one’s neighborhoods.

Our region has a history of discriminatory planning and policy decisions that have contributed to persistent racial inequities and disparities. Discriminatory practices such as redlining, racially restrictive covenants, and disproportionate investment have left lasting impacts on Black, Indigenous, and people of color across the entire region. Such practices have resulted in:

Disparities in income and homeownership rates

Hindrance to generational wealth building opportunities

Disparities in generational wealth between white and Black, Indigenous, and people of color

Disproportionate exposure to environmental injustices that contribute to health disparities

Inadequate provisions and access to green spaces

Stifled community connection and cultural connection

Adverse impacts on job access and educational opportunities

Constrained transportation options across the region

Although the government has prohibited overly discriminatory planning and policy decisions, gaps between white people and Black, Indigenous, and people of color continue to widen. These policies have been replaced by seemingly race-neutral policies that reinforce barriers to more equitable outcomes. As we move forward, it is imperative to not only acknowledge the historical faults embedded in our land use policies but also to actively engage in collaboration with communities that have borne the brunt of discriminatory decisions to work towards a more equitable region.

The effects of climate change transcend community boundaries and impact the entire region, at all scales. People organize themselves into all sorts of different communities, from cities, to neighborhoods, ethnic and cultural communities, and communities based around interests or a particular geography. All scales and types of community are affected by climate change impacts. We must also recognize that under resourced and historically disinvested communities often suffer the worst impacts of climate change. Climate change and environmental justice (equity considerations) are inextricably linked. Climate action must center environmental justice outcomes to build community and neighborhood scale resilience.

While it is important to implement mitigation measures to stop climate impacts associated with climate change from getting worse, we must also use nature-based and built solutions to adapt to current and future climate impacts and strengthen our resilience in the face of these challenges. The way our region develops impacts our ability to build resilient communities in the face of climate impacts. Development patterns that reduce impervious surface coverage and promote the use of green infrastructure can help reduce flooding during more intense rain events and cool areas impacted by the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Preserving and restoring tree canopies, especially in urban areas, supports cooling efforts while sequestering carbon. Adaptation and mitigation measures work hand in hand to increase climate resilience for communities, which ultimately makes our region more livable, healthy, and economically strong.

The region historically has had a robust and diverse economy, often leading our peer regions with growing industries that have competitive advantages. However, racial economic disparities and economic injustice are significant and chronic challenges that our region must confront. Disparities in employment, poverty, income, and homeownership by race and ethnicity persist in the Twin Cities and - in some cases - are the largest nationwide. As our region continues to grow in racial diversity, it is imperative to address these disparities in a meaningful way to ensure prosperity for all residents of the region. This dynamic becomes even more important as we recognize that job relocations to the region, as well as international immigration, have been waning. Regional and local economic conditions have significant impacts on the wellbeing of places important to our region and communities. These include our downtowns, other regional job and industrial centers, local main streets, and neighborhoods.

The economic vitality of our region requires active support of the region's economic assets, such as export industries and sectors of strength. We must commit to addressing the place-based and accessibility needs of industries and businesses, recognizing the importance of equitable access to resources and opportunities especially for emerging entrepreneurs and small businesses. The Met Council promotes reinvestment and innovation in underutilized areas, aiming to revitalize and maximize the potential of these communities. We also strive to enhance the accessibility of jobs for the region's workforce, facilitating greater opportunities for employment and economic participation. With our commitment to inclusive growth, we focus on meeting the needs of industries and enhancing the earning potential of workers through education, training, and mentoring programs which can be accomplished through partnership and collaboration. We seek to eliminate income and wealth disparities by race, advocating for equity and justice in economic opportunities. We are dedicated to creating accessible economic pathways for immigrants, acknowledging their valuable contributions to our region's diversity. Through these multifaceted efforts, we strive to build a resilient, inclusive, and thriving economy that benefits all people.