City presents 2045 Comprehensive Plan, citizens weigh in

(KWNO)-The Winona City Council unveiled its 2045 Comprehensive Plan at the most recent city council meeting. The plan is a roadmap for city growth and development over the next 10-20 years. City officials and citizens served on 12 sub-committees to help craft the plan which addresses affordable housing, community services and environmental/sustainability initiatives, among other issues.

Several citizens voiced their opinions about the plan. Debbie Nieburh lives on the eastside of Winona and wants to downsize from her current single-family home but says “there are very limited places” to move to. Nieburh encouraged the council to consider building cohousing units in Winona. Cohousing refers to intentional communities clustered around shared space.

Scott Maksenieks served on the Transformative Projects Subcommittee and questioned if the 2045 Comprehensive Plan reflects the work of that subcommittee, particularly the inclusion of fire and police buildings. Maksenieks called it “factually inaccurate” that the plan lists those projects as “transformative.”

“I urge to amend the plan now and remove those sections. It was not the will of the subcommittee, the people of Winona and it substantively important that future efforts are not guided by a plan that thinks spending $40 million on police is somehow transformative or visionary,” said Maksenieks.

The plan passed the city council with only Councilman Aaron Repinski voting against it. Council members and Mayor Scott Sherman stressed that the Comprehensive Plan is not a binding document, and any changes will flow through city boards and commissions before being presented back to the city council.