Imagine Slatterly Vision Plan - KXLT - Fox 47 Rochester MN News, Weather and Sports

ROCHESTER, Minn. (FOX 47) -- More than 100 people gathered at the Hawthorne Center Tuesday evening.  Some for the first time, others seeking clarification after the last meeting that was postponed due to so much public opinion.

Residents in neighborhoods around downtown Rochester like Slatterly Park have questions.  "Why is this being dictated by the downtown master plan?" said one concerned resident.  "And what's going to happen to their properties?" said another.

The evening was about answering those questions. "The Rochester downtown master plan indicates 20 to 30 years down the future a significant growth of downtown and that will impact the neighborhoods," said former Rochester Area Foundation member Adam Ferrari.

Those who showed up were given a packet detailing the Imagine Slattery Vision Plan, hoping to clear up the confusion from the October 1 meeting.

The plan is not a proposal, but a tool detailing the direction the community would like to head to accommodate change.

"The land use plan is really kind of a broad vision about of general idea of what the neighborhood or the community would like to see," said former Rochester Area Foundation member Chris Flood.  He explained a land use plan would be proactive.  "As opposed to reacting to what's happening and then not having all the information you need," said Ferrari.

Hoping to be prepared and help the community stand together.

The president of the Neighborhood Association, Wayne Flock, explained the core neighborhoods like Slatterly Park have not had an updated land use plan since 1979.