1. The small town character will be enhanced.

Northfield’s built environment is defined by a distinct land use pattern and architectural character; this character is cherished by local residents and distinguishes the Community in a regional context.

• Northfield’s character will be defined by “Old Northfield” that includes the downtown core and older historic neighborhoods.
• Future areas for growth and development will reflect the essential elements of “Old Northfield” with respect to the form and pattern of development.
• New development and redevelopment will be sensitive to pedestrians in terms of scale and walkability.
• Mixed-use will be the preferred development approach when accommodating retail and office uses.
• Diverse job and housing opportunities will be created to support the Community’s diversity, which contributes to establishing “small town” character.
• Northfield will work to achieve a balance of investment that includes housing, commercial and retail.
• Artistic and cultural activities will be promoted.

2. The natural environment will be protected, enhanced and better integrated in the Community.

Northfield’s natural environment has a variety of ecological systems, and open spaces. Residents have a strong environmental ethic and support the protection of critical environmental areas and desire open spaces for recreation and peace of mind.

• The Cannon River is a defining natural feature of the Community and will be protected and enhanced.
• The Cannon River will be integrated into the downtown and surrounding areas by creating quality public spaces that connect people to the River.
• Convenient and accessible recreational opportunities will be provided for all ages on parkland and greenspaces. These areas will be enhanced, and new areas set aside that connect people to the natural environment, and promote recreational opportunities to support active and healthy lifestyles.
• The green spaces will be protected and enhanced as cherished Community assets.

3. The preference for accommodating future growth is in infill locations, then redevelopment opportunities, and then on the edge of existing developed areas.

The existing pattern of development has been to grow outward into the edge of existing development or fringe areas. This pattern of development is compromising the rural character at the edges of the Community. This also creates a disconnected growth pattern that is auto-oriented, while increasing the demand for infrastructure and Community services.

• Priority areas for future development will be identified for all three areas (infill, redevelopment and greenfield).
• When new growth occurs on the edge of the Community it will be done with great care so as not to compromise the rural landscape or the small town character.

4. New and redeveloped residential communities will have strong neighborhood qualities.

The pattern of residential growth has been to create subdivisions with a single use and building type. Typically these subdivisions are not human-scaled or walkable and are framed by wide streets in a pattern that does not connect residential areas to each other, or the greater Community.

• Neighborhoods will be walkable with quality streets that accommodate both bicycles and automobiles, but give priority to the pedestrian experience.
• Community gathering areas will be integrated into new residential areas to promote opportunities for social interaction and public events.
• Basic retail service will be located nearby (accessible via walking and/or biking) or integrated with residential areas in the form of neighborhood centers.

5. Environmentally-sensitive and sustainable practices will be integrated into new developments and redeveloped areas.

The Community has a high level of environmental awareness, which is reflected in local energy choices. Residents want to continue to employ creative and innovative choices to reflect the Community’s commitment to sustainability and healthy living.

• New construction will employ context sensitive design to reduce impacts on the natural environment.
• Compact/cluster subdivision design will be the preferred pattern of residential development in edge areas.
• Green building practices will be encouraged to minimize the consumption of resources, employ recycling of building materials, and promote quality indoor living and working environments for Northfield residents.
• Energy efficient design and passive solar orientation will be encouraged.
• Green stormwater management options should be implemented to retain and reuse stormwater when appropriate, and surface runoff reduced which may have negative impacts on the local watershed.

6. Places with a mix of uses that are distinctive and contribute to increasing the City’s overall vitality are preferred.

The local identity defined as “Old Northfield”, which includes a variety of uses mixed together on the same block, or same building, has been noted by residents as reflecting positively on the community. Over the last fifty years land uses have been segregated from one another, which detracts from this identity.

• The City will encourage new and mixed-use centers - places that mix small-scale retail, residences, offices and civic uses.
• New opportunities will be created for residents to live and work in and around the downtown.
• Mixed-use centers will be compatible in scale and character of surrounding uses and incorporate quality architectural elements that reflect “Old Northfield.”
• New opportunities for local businesses will be created in new mixed-use centers.
• The City will promote the arts in the life of the community.

7. Small-scale retail will have neighborhood-sensitive qualities.

Retail has been developed in Northfield in a pattern that does not respond contextually to the surrounding neighborhoods, districts, and streets. Retail development has been single-use and auto-oriented, with parking out front and buildings disconnected from the streetscape. Few if any architectural elements have been incorporated into the design to reflect the vernacular or historical context of the Community.

• Small retail will reflect qualities of the residential context with respect to form, scale and character.
• Small retail will be sited in a manner that is pedestrian-friendly.

8. A wider range of housing choices will be encouraged—in the Community as well as in neighborhoods.

Housing developments have been developed with homogenous unit type and pricing. This has created a monotonous character to residential developments and has segregated residents socially and economically. Housing developments have also catered to larger families with above average household incomes (which does not reflect demographic trends) thereby limiting more affordable housing opportunities.

• New residential development will offer a variety of housing types and prices.
• Housing diversity will be integrated into the fabric of the neighborhood.

9. Rural character of certain areas of the Community will be protected.

The rural character of the Community is a defining element in creating Northfield’s identity. The primary elements that make up this character are the rural roads, expansive agrarian views, and rural architectural vernacular.

• The open space and agricultural quality of the Community will be strengthened, and protected where appropriate.
• Public investments, e.g. roads, will be improved in a manner that strengthens the rural character.

10. Streets will create an attractive public realm and be exceptional places for people.

The local streets are wide and are designed primarily to facilitate the movement of automobiles (e.g. ignore the needs of pedestrians and cyclist). The wide nature of the streets encourages a higher rate of travel for motorists, and increases the distance between building fronts, which detracts from the pedestrian experience and quaint small town character.

• Roadways and streets are important elements of the built environment and will strengthen the character of the setting.
• Roadways and streets will be given greater consideration as part of future development to ensure they contribute to the neighborhood character and people-oriented functions.
• The City will take great care in protecting the rural roadway character on the edge of the Community.
• Buildings will be situated on their site to define a high quality streetscape; this includes locating structures close to the street and parking to the rear of the structure.

11. Places will be better connected, in part to improve the function of the street network and also to better serve neighborhoods.

Streets that are disconnected limit the flow of traffic in the Community by forcing traffic onto major and minor arterials, which can create traffic congestion. Encouraging an interconnected street pattern will create more options for residents to arrive at destinations, thereby decreasing travel time/distance, reducing congestion and improving wayfinding.

• The road pattern will be improved to keep local traffic off major arterials, and high-speed through traffic off local streets.
• A connected grid street system is the preferred network for future development and redevelopment.
• The development or redevelopment along commercial corridors will incorporate traditional patterns reflected in “Old Northfield”, which emphasizes pedestrian mobility and the relationships of buildings to one another and the public realm.

12. Opportunities will be created to walk and bike throughout the Community.

A large percentage of residents prefer to make trips via walking or biking, and desire to recreate on multi-use paths. Currently there are limited opportunities for walking and cycling, which encourages more trips being made via the automobile. This contributes to local congestion and decreased air quality, while limiting healthy lifestyle choices for residents.

• The design of local streets will encourage pedestrian and bicycle movement through features such as sidewalks, bike paths, narrower street widths, and quality planter and buffer strips to protect the pedestrian.
• Sidewalks, walking trails and bike paths will be connected to public parks and other destinations, including shopping and entertainment areas.