Hibbing to host community open house, seeking opinions on land use

Have an opinion on what business should go where in Hibbing? You can attend an upcoming public input session on the future of land use in Hibbing.

The city of Hibbing, along with planning consultant HKGi, will host a Community Open House beginning at 3 p.m. Monday, May 19, in the second-floor conference room at city hall. This event is intended for all Hibbing residents, business owners and property owners.

The city’s Planning Commission is in the process of updating the natural environment chapter of the city’s comprehensive plan, which was approved by the City Council in 2018. This chapter is focused on analysis and future guidance for all land uses citywide.

HKGi has been hired to assist with updating the chapter. According to a news release, HKGi has experience with a broad range of cities preparing comprehensive plans, including land use planning.

The open house will feature informational displays that describe the basic elements of an effective land use plan; GIS-based land use inventory maps, including existing land uses citywide and three focus areas (downtown, Highway 169 corridor and the Highway 37 corridor); future projections for population, households, businesses and demand for land; and potential key topics/goals for future land use planning, according to Jeff Miller of HGKi.

“[We aim] to introduce community members to the basic elements of an effective land use plan, present accurate GIS-based land use inventory maps including an existing land use map, and provide an opportunity for questions and input from community members,” stated Miller in the release.

Having a current and future land use map that matches the City Council’s community and economic development goals helps pave the way for future business and housing developments to take place, stated Community Development Director Betsy Olivanti.

“Additionally, our GIS maps have not been updated as zoning changes take place so those will be identified as part of this project,” she added. “Finally, the future land use map will inform any updates to the city’s zoning maps, along with permitted and conditional uses within those zones reviewed and revised as needed.”

Immediately following the open house, project consultants will meet with the Planning Commission, as it is the advisory group for the land use plan update. That meeting begins at 5 p.m.

“Keep in mind that the comprehensive plan, including the existing and future land use maps, are different from the zoning code and the zoning map,” Miller explained. “The comprehensive plan is the city’s big picture, visionary, long-term guide for future land use planning, whereas the zoning code and zoning map provide detailed regulations for at the property level and current development.”

Updates to the land use chapter do not automatically change zoning.

Additional public engagement will occur in July/August and October/November, including open houses and online input opportunities. The updated land use chapter is anticipated to be completed and adopted into the Comprehensive Plan by the end of 2025.