Topics Overview
The City of Winona’s Comprehensive Plan Update will have sections on 12 topics. Ten of them are listed below, and two additional topics will be added based on community input. Approaches to each topic will consider equity, technology, and sustainability as we look toward Winona’s future.
- Land use and development
- Housing and neighborhoods
- Economic development
- Environment
- Transportation
- Historic preservation
- Accessible government
- Arts and humanities
- Parks and recreation
- Transformative projects
Located on an island and surrounded by steep bluffs, Winona’s unique setting makes efficient, economical use of land critically important. Winona’s new Comprehensive Plan will update growth recommendations and examine land use both within Winona and immediately adjacent to the city.
The Comprehensive Plan Update will address housing choice in the City of Winona to help create more homes for people. The plan will address gaps in housing supply and identify distinct characteristics and needs of neighborhoods across the city.
Winona has a solid base of economic activity and employment options. The new Comprehensive Plan will look at ways for Winona to maintain and develop its competitive edge. This includes workforce development and necessities such as childcare, recreation, and livability. The plan will also consider physical development, riverfront development, and the commercial harbor.
Winona’s new Comprehensive Plan will include highlights from the new Natural Resources and Sustainability Plan that is currently being developed. Aspects of the plan will include water resources, stormwater management, open space, alternative energy, climate change, and more.
Winona’s updated Comprehensive Plan will focus on feasible projects the city can implement to safely facilitate all modes of transportation, including people walking and rolling, people biking, and people driving. The plan will look at transit, the airport, our street network, and water traffic as well.
Winona is rich in historic resources, and the new Comprehensive Plan will connect historical preservation to economic development and reinvestment in the city core. The plan will also explore historic preservation in regard to neighborhood identities and development practices.
Winona’s new Comprehensive Plan will suggest ways to increase participation and representation on City Boards and the City Council, including incorporating technology to increase efficiency and access.
Winona is known as an arts destination, and the city’s updated Comprehensive Plan will include highlights from the new Arts and Culture Strategic Plan, which is currently underway.
Many people in Winona love our parks and recreation spaces, and Winona is a regional destination for unique recreation opportunities. The new Comprehensive Plan will reference the existing Parks Plan and Bluffs Traverse Plan, include updates for park development and maintenance, and look at connections through the community.
After the first phase of engagement, the plan will address ideas for big projects that cover multiple sections, with a focus on those that rise to the top and are attainable.