The implementation plan presents a number of strategies that together, have the potential to positively shape growth and change in the City. Since resources are usually limited, it is unrealistic to assume that the City can undertake all of them simultaneously. Therefore, it will be necessary to focus on those that have the greatest potential to accomplish stated goals or those that respond to issues or problems that have been assigned the highest priorities.
Eight strategy categories have been identified including land use, transportation, utilities, public services, parks, housing, image and redevelopment. Within each category, priorities are listed. Immediate priority items should be addressed within the next year and high priority items should be addressed in the next five years. Ongoing issues should be continually addressed. Collectively, the eight categories encompass all of the applicable issues identified in the planning process. The simultaneous pursuit of multiple strategies is possible because different groups in Hopkins will have responsibility for the implementation of different strategies. For example, the Zoning and Planning Commission may focus on land use while the Park Commission may address the implementation of park and recreation strategies.
Strategies related to land use need to address a number of topics. Land use decisions that will be made over the next two decades will have a lasting impact on the community.
Strategy #1 Protect the integrity of Hopkins' residential neighborhoods (Ongoing).
Comment: Hopkins's residential neighborhoods are a major strength of the community. One of the principal goals of this plan is the continued maintenance and improvement of residential areas. The City should ensure that future land use changes and redevelopments respect existing neighborhood areas.
Strategy #2 Cooperate with the City of Minnetonka on land use changes along the common border abutting Shady Oak Road (High Priority – 2000-2005).
Comment: Improvements along Shady Oak Road, immediately north of Excelsior Boulevard are going to require land use changes in both communities. It may be necessary to adjust the municipal boundaries in this area in order to effectively pursue land use changes. Hopkins should initiate discussions with Minnetonka on this issue.
Transportation Strategies
Hopkins' transportation system accommodates the movement of people and goods in a variety of ways including automobiles, trucks, bicycles, and pedestrians. Because of the developed nature of the community, Hopkins will not see any new major road construction. Therefore, it is important to maximize the efficiency of the existing transportation network.
Strategy #1 Maintain and improve the existing roadway system (Ongoing).
Comments: The City should cooperate with Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) and Hennepin County in maintaining and improving the existing roadway system. Hopkins should take a proactive role in analyzing and implementing local street improvements.
Strategy #2 Assist in ways to reduce vehicular travel demand (Ongoing).
Comments: Many of Hopkins' residents work outside of the community and commute, primarily via the local highway network, to other employment centers. The City should support efforts to encourage ride sharing as well as other travel demand management techniques. Large employers in the community should be encouraged to promote internal efforts such as vanpools to reduce traffic on local and regional roadways. The City should also continue its efforts to improve the regional trail system to accommodate non-vehicular forms of travel.
Strategy #3 Improve the existing transit system (High Priority – 2000 – 2005).
Comments: The City should work cooperatively with the Metropolitan Council Transit Operations and other agencies to improve mass transit. Transit service is a function of population and employment densities. Hopkins is a major employment center and accordingly, is being considered for future light rail transit (LRT) and/or dedicated bus way improvements.
Strategy #4 Work with the City of Minnetonka to resolve joint transportation issues (Ongoing).
Comments: Hopkins and Minnetonka share a number of transportation concerns that will require the close cooperation of both communities. Both cities need to work cooperatively with Hennepin County on the improvement of Shady Oak Road. Additionally, the two communities need to collaborate on improvements of the Cedar Lake Road and Minnetonka Boulevard intersection to find a solution that solves traffic movement problems while protecting the adjacent Hopkins' neighborhoods.
Strategy #5 Continue improvements along Excelsior Boulevard (High Priority – 2000 – 2005).
Comments: Excelsior Boulevard is one of Hopkins major roadways. The image that it presents is an important factor in the public's perception of the community. Improvements begun on the west end in 1998 need to continue eastward to the St. Louis Park border.
As a fully developed community, utility planning in Hopkins focuses on maintaining and improving the existing systems rather than on expanding systems to serve future growth. Major infrastructure improvements in the future will occur due to replacement of systems that have become outmoded or reconstructing utility systems to support specific redevelopment projects. When redevelopment projects occur, one of the major challenges involves effectively treating and removing stormwater. National, state and regional environmental standards have changed significantly since most of Hopkins was developed. Fitting new developments and new standards into an existing built environment may require creativity and new engineering technologies.
Strategy #1 Continue to aggressively maintain municipal utility systems (Ongoing).
Comments: Hopkins has a history of maintaining local utility systems. For example, the City televises trunk sewer lines to tailor maintenance practices and to determine areas that need repair or reconstruction. These efforts should continue in the future in order to maintain an infrastructure system that is economically efficient and that supports the community.
The City of Hopkins is instrumental in supplying public services within the community. In many cases, the City is the direct supplier such as its water distribution system, police, fire and public works activities. In other cases, it has less of a direct role such as education, electricity, natural gas, cable television and telephone. Since the City plays both a direct and indirect role, it is important that a comprehensive public services strategy be in place.
Strategy #1 Provide efficient management and distribution of public services supplied by the City of Hopkins (Ongoing).
Comments: Since Hopkins supplies local utilities and its own police and fire departments, future needs can be monitored and addressed by staff and the City Council.
Strategy #2 Coordinate social service needs with Hennepin County and applicable State and Federal agencies (Ongoing).
Comments: Hopkins plays a very limited role in the direct provision of social services. The City should establish itself as an information source and clearinghouse for resident's needs.
Strategy #3 Annually update the City's capital improvement program to reflect required expenditures over the upcoming five year period of time (Ongoing).
Comments: The City's annual capital improvement program contains an analysis of existing funds and specified needs for future equipment and facilities. The City should continue to use the CIP format to establish priorities for the allocation of funds and the initiation of purchases and projects. City staff should continue to coordinate its capital improvement program needs with those of other impacting agencies such as Hennepin County and Mn/DOT.
Strategy #4 Support education in the community (Ongoing).
Comments: Hopkins has an excellent educational system in place. The City should meet periodically with the local school district to ensure that municipal public services meet their needs. Additionally, the City should continue joint programming of recreational activities with the school district and the City of Minnetonka.
Parks and Open Space Strategies
Parks and open space are important components of the land use pattern in the City. The park and recreation section of the comprehensive plan identifies needs for future park improvements. Assigning priorities to the identified needs will occur as part of the capital improvement program process.
Strategy #1 Seek outside grants and funding assistance for major future park improvements (High Priority – 2000 – 2005).
Comments: Although funding sources have been dwindling in recent years, programs such as TEA-21 still exist that can be used to fund recreational facilities, particularly trail segments and trail improvements. The City should continue to aggressively pursue outside grant funds. Additionally, the City should continue to work closely with community service groups that have funding and volunteer labor that can be used to improve the City's park system.
Strategy #2 Involve the Hopkins community in future planning for the re-use of the landfill area.
Comments: At some point in the future, the Hopkins landfill area will be cleared for re-use as a public open space area. At that time, the City should utilize a planning process that involves the community in determining how the area can best support the City's overall recreation needs.
Housing is influenced by national, state, regional and local policies and conditions. Hopkins has some impact on housing, principally through housing policies and land use planning and regulation.
Strategy #1 Work to ensure that local actions do not unduly increase the cost of housing and maintain an ordinance structure that permits a full range of housing types(Ongoing).
Comments: Hopkins zoning and subdivision ordinances allow a broad range of housing types. As Hopkins reviews its zoning and subdivision standards as a follow-up to the adoption of the comprehensive plan, the Zoning and Planning Commission should strive to ensure that ordinances are designed to achieve locally identified goals without increasing the cost of housing.
Strategy #2 Provide information to local builders and homeowners about available housing programs offered by both governmental and private entities (Ongoing).
Comments: The City of Hopkins should provide information on available housing programs that could help continually improve the quality of the housing stock in the community. Programs are continually offered through the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, and other entities. The City should establish itself as a clearinghouse for information on current programs offered by these and other organizations.
Strategy #3 Enforce code provisions that encourage long-term maintenance of existing housing (Ongoing).
Comments: The City should rigorously enforce all structure and property maintenance codes. Maintaining quality neighborhoods is important in keeping Hopkins a desirable place to live.
In order to foster community support and maintain Hopkins' traditional high quality image, the following strategies have been identified.
Strategy #1 Emphasize high levels of maintenance of public improvements by all public agencies including the City, State and County (Ongoing).
Comments: Maintenance of public areas helps promote maintenance of private property. Public agencies should maintain all buildings, property and right-of-way.
Strategy #2 Make community entrances attractive (Ongoing).
Comments: Hopkins should construct attractive entrance signs at major entrances to the community to support community identity.
Hopkins has a long history of promoting redevelopment efforts in the community. Over the past five years, the City has made substantial improvements that have supported the local economy and upgraded the City's image. Recent successes can serve as a catalyst for additional improvements.
Strategy #1 Continue to improve downtown Hopkins (On-going).
Comments: Streetscape improvements, construction of the Performing Arts Center and commercial theater complex on Mainstreet, new townhome construction and the reconstruction of Excelsior Boulevard and 11 th Avenue have substantially improved the downtown area. The City should continually strive to improve the downtown environment by providing infrastructure support and other assistance to promote private investment.
Strategy #2 Pursue the redevelopment of the old Red Owl North Annex site at the intersection of Excelsior Boulevard and TH 169 (Immediate Priority – 2000 – 2005).
Comments: The 40 + acre site at the intersection of TH 169 and Excelsior Boulevard is one of the most significant redevelopment sites in the Twin Cities area. It has the potential to help define the City of Hopkins because of its prominence. The City should support the redevelopment of the site as a corporate headquarters or major office development location.
