After environmental groups sought to stop the city’s ambitious comprehensive plan, Minneapolis is looking for ways to resume its implementation.

After a contentious lawsuit challenging the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan, the city has commissioned an environmental review, reports Susan Du in the Star Tribune. In the lawsuit, environmental groups argued that an environmental review of the plan should be required before its approval, while city officials maintained that the groups could challenge individual projects they deemed harmful.
“Smart Growth Minneapolis and Minnesota Citizens for the Protection of Migratory Birds claimed the 2040 Plan, designed to eliminate single-family zoning in favor of developing more housing, would pollute the air and public waters while reducing permeable land and wildlife habitat. Challenging individual projects wouldn't address the cumulative effects of the plan, the groups argued.” Meanwhile, “[Minneapolis Mayor] Frey and city staffers lobbied the Legislature this spring to change state law by exempting municipal comprehensive plans from environmental review, and were joined by city officials from St. Paul and Hopkins.”
PeggySue Imihy, president of the Minnesota chapter of the American Planning Association, supported the plan, saying “If local governments lose the ability to increase density and urban centers, the result would include further dispersed development patterns that would have far more negative environmental impacts than the full build out of any comprehensive plan.”
The implementation of Minneapolis 2040 was halted by a judge last June, but was tentatively allowed to proceed a month later.
FULL STORY: Minneapolis commissions environmental review in final stretch of 2040 Plan lawsuit

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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