Bloomington's next comprehensive plan now has a shape and a table of contents. On Oct. 29, planning staff told the Planning Commission what the first round of outreach turned up. They counted about 646 interactions across 15 events, several hundred six-word-story postcards and 172 online survey responses. The themes that kept coming up were walkable, connected neighborhoods, more housing options including affordable housing, and "third spaces," the places to gather that aren't home or work.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNStaff walk commissioners through what residents said in the first round of Bloomington 2050 outreach.10/29
The plan's structure is changing too. Staff said Bloomington 2050 will add new chapters on economic development and climate. It will also split the old community facilities chapter in 2: one on parks, trails and natural systems, and one on community health and services.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNStaff lay out the plan's new chapter lineup, and commissioners push for small businesses to get attention alongside the big employers.10/29
Why it matters: State law requires every city in the 7-county metro area to update its comprehensive plan every 10 years. Bloomington's current plan, Forward 2040, was adopted Aug. 5, 2019. The city projects about 13,000 more residents by 2050, for a total of about 103,400. The plan covers land use, housing, transportation, parks, climate and business support. In other words, this is where Bloomington decides where those people will live and how they'll get around.
How we got here: The public kickoff was May 20, with a launch event at Bryant Park and an online event after it. Staff spent the summer tabling at community events and collecting six-word stories. The plan was already shaping other decisions by fall. At the Sept. 28 council meeting, a staff member said some of the plan's recommendations may involve rezoning an area zoned FD-2. Either way, staff said, the city wouldn't want to create a long list of nonconformities.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNA staff member tells the council that 2050 plan recommendations could mean rezoning an FD-2 area, without leaving businesses out of compliance.09/28
In October the drafts started making the rounds of city boards. The HRA took up the plan on Oct. 13 as a discussion item, with no vote.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNThe HRA moves on to the Bloomington 2050 update, listed as a discussion item rather than an action.10/13
On Oct. 20 staff gave the Port Authority a draft vision statement, 6 strategic priorities and 3 guiding principles meant to run through the whole plan: equity, sustainability and livability. Staff said the drafts grew out of the summer outreach.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNPlanning staff present the draft vision, strategic priorities and guiding principles to Port Authority commissioners.10/20
Until a new plan is adopted, Forward 2040 is still the rulebook. On Oct. 29 the commission did its yearly check that the city's 2027-2036 Combined 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan, its planned spending on streets, pipes and buildings, fits the current plan.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNStaff explain that Forward 2040, not the draft 2050 plan, is the yardstick for this year's capital plan review.10/29
Where it stands: the vision, priorities and guiding principles are still drafts. The city says Phase 2 starts in early 2027, when those drafts go back out for public input and refinement. Phase 3, in summer and fall 2027, works out goals and strategies. After that comes community review of a full draft and then a vote by the City Council.
If you want a say before anyone draws zoning maps, the city is still taking six-word stories on its Let's Talk Bloomington page for the plan. Questions can go to Planning Supervisor Dakota Kastenday at 2050@bloomingtonmn.gov or to the Planning Division at 952-563-8920. We'll keep updating this story as the plan moves.
From the meetings: Planning Commission Meeting, October 29, 2026, Port Authority Meeting, October 20, 2026, and Planning Commission Meeting, October 1, 2026.
