Protecting the earth means making cities more affordable, equitable, and accessible for more people.
Meet the Sierra Club North Star Chapter’s Land Use and Transportation program, which focuses on the intersections between environmental sustainability and the way cities are built. More people are living in cities. The metro region is expected to add 700,000 more people by 2040. As the Metropolitan Council Chair Alene Tchourumoff points out in this Star Tribune article: "That's nearly the entire state of North Dakota. With it, they'll bring an 80% increase in transit demand.” Smart land use and transportation options result in numerous environmental benefits, including: lower carbon footprints, cleaner air, and an opportunity to preserve natural open space which filters water and provides critical habitat for flora and fauna.
For the last 60 years, Minnesota cities have been built around private car use, making it difficult for people to change transportation habitats. Our core cities are becoming less affordable, forcing people to live further out in the suburbs leading to more building on open space, longer commutes and less free time with families or connecting with nature.
Sierra Club supports building a Minneapolis that provides equitable transportation options for all. It supports providing affordable housing so that all residents have access to jobs, schools, and the best park system in the nation.
Minneapolis 2040 is the city’s draft Comprehensive Plan that shapes how the city will grow and change over the coming decades. This plan addresses core issues of the Sierra Club. Public comment is being accepted until July 22nd.
The Sierra Club’s Land Use and Transportation program is providing a forum for conversation on the Plan, encouraging people to get involved and provide input, and ultimately will submit input from the Sierra Club.
Current debate is focused on the proposed changes in density, allowing for 4-unit homes, in areas where currently only single family homes and duplexes are allowed. Follow the debate at streetsmn.org
Your voice matters. If you live or work in Minneapolis, weighing in on Minneapolis 2040 is a great way to make a positive impact for the future of your city. We invite you to attend one of the City’s interactive open houses listed below. Each event will feature family-friendly activities created by local artists, as well as free food from local businesses. You can view and comment on draft policies and maps that are intended to achieve the plan goals. You will also have the opportunity to sit down with city planners and fellow attendees for in-depth discussions on specific action steps listed in the draft plan.
City of Minneapolis
Minneapolis 2040 Community Engagement Events:
Saturday, May 12, 10:00am‐12:30pm, Northeast Recreation Center, 1530 Johnson St NE
Monday, May 14, 5:30pm‐8:00pm, MLK Recreation Center, 4055 Nicollet Ave S
Wednesday, May 16, 5:30pm‐8:00pm, North Commons Recreation Center, 1801 N James Ave
Thursday, May 17, 5:30pm‐8:00pm, Dayton YMCA at Gaviidae Common, 651 Nicollet Mall #300
Thursday, May 31, 5:30pm‐8:00pm, Powderhorn Recreation Center, 3400 S 15th Ave
Can’t attend one of the meetings?
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The complete draft plan is available at minneapolis2040.com, with opportunities for comment throughout the site. Comment online here.
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Follow on Twitter @Mpls2040.
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Sign up for the Minneapolis 2040 email list.
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Join the next Sierra Club Land Use and Transportation Committee meeting to help shape Sierra Club’s input. We generally meet the first Monday of the month, 6:00pm at the Sierra Club office, but check in first with Joshua Houdek to confirm.