Introduction. Since the completion of the last Comprehensive Plan in1960, the City has experienced significant economic and development challenges:

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1 This document is the Comprehensive Plan for the City of Chisholm, Minnesota. The plan outlines basic guiding principles that have been embraced by the City of Chisholm to shape its future. This plan has been developed through a process of public input and information analysis undertaken from 2000 to Since the completion of the last Comprehensive Plan in1960, the City has experienced significant economic and development challenges: The mining industry The historic economic engine, continues to demonstrate an economic uncertainty in the global economy. An aging population base This has been exaggerated by limited, however increasing, diversified economic development. Transportation improvements Development of the Hwy 169 corridor, which has altered the physical form of the a community and the traditional function of downtown. Aging public infrastructure Improvements are needed to the sewer and water systems to support continued economic development. Continued industrial, commercial, retail and residential development This continues to demand infrastructure expansion. The city is landlocked This is true with any physical expansion dependent upon cooperation with Balkan Township. The City also has opportunities for growth and development which have previously not existed: The Central Iron Range Initiative has the opportunity to develop regional approaches for needed economic development, public infrastructure improvements and cooperative planning. The Laurentian Vision which presents opportunities for new recreational uses on abandoned mining lands and pits. The following material provides an overview of the community and the basic organization of the Comprehensive Plan document. i.5

2 Overview The City: A Bit of the Past and the Present Located on Highway 169 in the center of Minnesota's Iron Range, Chisholm is a city long on history. The vast forests of giant pine were what first attracted people to this area and soon several logging camps were built up on the shores of the lake. The city now surrounds Longyear Lake, named for E. J. Longyear, who explored the present site of Chisholm in 1892 and discovered the first mine here. The Pillsbury's first shipment of approximately 100,000 tons of ore was made from the mine in This was when the Great Northern Railroad built a line to Chisholm from Duluth. The city was named for Archibald Mark Chisholm, a young Scotsman, from Alexandria, Ontario, Canada. Born on April 24, 1864, at a time in which the United States was at war with itself and when Abraham Lincoln was President. A much traveled man with a driving ambition; by 1888 mining was fast becoming his major interest. He moved to Ely, Minnesota and worked as Paymaster at the Chandler and Ely mines. In 1891, he returned to Chippewa Falls to marry Lillian Coleman Cummings. They later returned to Hibbing, Minnesota where sometime between 1891 and 1894 he helped organize the Lumberman's and Miners Bank. Taken from the Chisholm Chamber of Commerce web page By 1901, the town was booming. A hotel was built, and Chisholm, with a population of 250 was incorporated as a village. W. C. Northey was elected as the town's first mayor. The first school building was completed in 1907, with J. P. Vaughan selected as Superintendent of Schools. A position he held until August 1, i.6

3 By 1908, as more new mines were discovered Chisholm was prospering at a phenomenal rate. With an electric light plant and sewer systems, streets and sidewalks were built and a volunteer fire department organized. There were now nearly 500 buildings and a population reaching 4,000, Chisholm was becoming a major city on the Range. It was during the fall of the year that Chisholm was totally devastated by a forest fire. Rebuilding began right away with much to be done before winter set in. It was at this time that Chisholm's new doctor, "Moonlight" Graham arrived. By 1909 the city hall was completed, the library by 1914 and the present senior high school in A junior high and community building were added by Chisholm's maximum population of 10,123 was reached by After the fire, the village council passed strict ordinances requiring main street buildings be constructed solely of brick. Chisholm, by 1948, was a city with two hotels, a general hospital, a detention hospital, eight churches, two weekly newspapers, and a post office housed in its own federal building. It was served by two main highways, #73 and #169, the Great Northern Railroad, The Duluth, Mesaba, and Iron Range Railways, the Greyhound Bus Lines (which originated in Hibbing, Minnesota), and Wisconsin Central Airlines. Today, Chisholm and its surrounding areas of Balkan Township and Side Lake have become a vacationers retreat where the tourist season never seems to end. Within a very short distance you can visit several other Range cities also. Hibbing, site of the Hull Rust Mine, the World's Largest Open Pit iron mine in the world. Grand Rapids, home of Judy Garland. Virginia, where you can arrange to visit one of the many taconite plants. Eveleth, home of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame and the biggest darn hockey stick you've have ever seen! Ely, with the International Wolf Center. International Falls, Canada, and the Boundary Waters are only a couple of hours away also brought many needed jobs to the area with the completion of the Northwest Airlines Reservation Center. The ninth reservation center for Northwest Airlines, but one of a kind. The first to be built totally new from the ground up, it is the most advanced, state-of-the-art reservation center they have. A definite boost to our community. i.7

4 Benefits of a Comprehensive Plan As change occurs within a community a comprehensive plan establishes a decision-making framework and set priorities for community development. The comprehensive plan is a guide and a tool for city officials and citizens. The plan is meant to be flexible and will require periodic review and update. The following outlines the major benefits for undertaking a comprehensive planning process. Plan Guides development and public investment. Demonstrates a shared community vision. Determines land use patterns. Address Important Issues Creates a desirable community to live, work and recreate for all ages. Coordinates on-going development and infrastructure projects. Explores the changing character and function of highway circulation routes. Develop Sub-Regional Principles/Opportunities Fosters cooperative planning and economic development that strengthens the individual communities. Shares major capital expenses; infrastructure, public improvements and services where most cost effective. Builds on existing strengths - improves linkages, physical and otherwise, between cities. City Scale Objectives for Chisholm Enhances the community s identity. Identifies improvement projects within the community. Develops strategies for community development projects. Important Neighborhood Scale Considerations Improves physical connections within the community. Improves the public realm. Improves neighborhood livability. i.8

5 Creating a Sub-Regional Framework In addition to this comprehensive plan, two additional documents have been prepared to guide the growth and development of the Central Iron Range communities. The first is the Central Iron Range Initiative which involves Balkan Township, City of Buhl, City of Chisholm, Great Scott Township, City of Hibbing, Ironworld, and City of Kinney. This document addresses joint infrastructure and economic development initiatives and sets the stage for cooperative regional planning. The second document is a comprehensive plan for the City of Hibbing. The The is intended to guide the City s actions over the next several years. It is in effect, a collective agenda, a to do list. It provides recommendations for all branches of municipal government as well as for private agencies, the business community, and individuals. Through public forums and meetings, 8 key goal areas were identified as chapters for the Comprehensive Plan. These are: Community Form Cultural Resources Economic Development Transportation Public Infrastructure Neighborhoods and Housing Parks, Open Space and Recreation Land Use In addition, the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission has been gathering data and providing mapping information for the City of Chisholm. While some of the mapping information is incorporated into this Comprehensive Plan, this information is being considered an accessory document to the Comprehensive Plan. i.9

6 Using the Document Community Goals Information and Assessment Recommendations and Guidelines Implementation For each of the topic areas covered in this document, you ll find: Community Goals The Comprehensive Plan goals were developed through a series of open houses, focus group discussions and workshops. These serve as the framework for developing the recommended strategies and actions that are the centerpiece of this plan. Information and Assessment Background information is given under this heading to describe existing conditions and relevant, pertinent information This material is edited from interviews, workshops and open houses as well as reconnaissance fieldwork. Included are statistics, narrative descriptions, and anecdotal information from interviews conducted with relevant public and private sector representatives. The information is not meant to be an exhaustive account and evaluation of all that is going on, its purpose was to help identify areas of opportunity and to frame further discussions. Recommendations and Guidelines As noted, recommendations are the centerpiece of this Comprehensive Plan. The Recommendations and Guidelines section includes proposals for specific projects and also identifies issues needing further study. The intent is to be both visionary and practical, featuring large-scale, long-term projects that will have substantial impacts along with smaller tasks that are readily achievable and are therefore important for sustaining a sense of accomplishment and momentum. Implementation Implementation strategies and steps at the end of each section are meant to provide a framework for decision making with a recognition that further discussion and action steps will need to be developed. It is important to note that each section is designed to be read and considered on its own, with or without the other sections. Because of this the plan has some built in redundancy to it; certain recommendations appear in more than one section. Repeated recommendations are those that are relevant to more than one goal area. i.10

7 Chisholm s Priorities Community-Based Goals for Comprehensive Planning Process The following is a list of community-based goals that were derived from citizen input, Steering Committee input, and Consultant Team input. Community Participation Enhance and increase opportunities for communication between city government and citizens in an effort to encourage citizens to participate in planning for the future of their communities; and to challenge city government to be cognizant of the needs of the citizens it represents. Cooperative Inter-Governmental Relations Promote and develop cooperative relationships with nearby communities to ensure that governmental services, programs and facilities are provided in the most cost-effective, timely manner possible. Economic Development Create and maintain a diverse economy with expanded business and job opportunities that focus on local resources, talent and industries. This will make it possible for existing businesses and residents to prosper, area youth to remain, former residents to return, and to attract and retain new residents. Housing Promote the provision of life-cycle housing, ensuring that housing choices which are affordable and livable for all residents are available. Transportation Develop a comprehensive transportation system that offers safe and convenient access to subregional job, shopping, educational, cultural, institutional, open space and recreational opportunities which mitigates the negative impacts of traffic in residential neighborhoods. i.11

8 Public Infrastructure Rebuild, expand and update infrastructure systems in a costeffective, timely manner so that the subregion remains an attractive place to do business, work, live, recreate and visit. Provide city services in a cost-effective, timely manner which also take into account the needs and concerns of subregional residents and businesses. Focus capital improvement planning on sustainability and review of alternate methods for providing governmental services. Education Maintain quality educational opportunities through sound management practices which increase access to facilities, services and programs for all ages within the subregion; especially as public school districts are consolidated. Cultural and Historical Resources Protect and preserve the cultural, historical and natural attributes of the subregion so that residents, visitors and future generations will appreciate the contributions of past residents and the unique character of this subregion. Enhance and promote the subregion as an attractive place to visit year-round, paying attention to the unique cultural, historical and natural attributes of the subregion. Parks, Recreation and Open Space Provide recreational opportunities for people of all ages while focusing on the sustainability of the subregion s natural resources. i.12

9 Land Use Establish land use principles for all development activity that are flexible, coherent, applied fairly and consistently, and that will ensure the sustainability of the subregion s economy and quality of life. Account for the full environmental, social and economic costs of development and redevelopment activities, including infrastructure costs such as streets, sewer and water lines, stormwater runoff, schools, and parks and recreation. Provide increased, varied shopping and entertainment opportunities so residents do not have to travel long distances to meet their household and personal needs. Corridor Management Develop a cooperative planning and development infrastructure that stimulates inter-community cooperation between the communities of Chisholm, Hibbing and Balkan Township. Develop and redevelop the Highway 169 corridor in an economically, aesthetically and environmentally sustainable manner that provides opportunities for existing and new businesses; mitigates any negative impacts on nearby residential neighborhoods, and in a manner that maintains the distinctiveness of the communities along its path. i.13

10 The Goal Areas Community Form Cultural Resources Economic Development Public Infrastructure Transportation Neighborhoods and Housing Parks, Open Space and Recreation Land Use i.14