Fred Heinonen
Scandia Area Reporter

The Scandia Comprehensive Plan Committee has scheduled meetings on Saturday Oct. 20, 9-11 a.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 23, 6:30–8:30 p.m. at the community center to collect public input. The comprehensive plan update process is designed to give residents several opportunities to participate in deliberation of the plan.

On Oct. 11, Brian Ross, from CR Planning, presented the public meeting plan for the first (visioning) round of public meetings. The meeting plan includes; a welcome, handouts, a presentation, participation, and discussion.

The presentation will describe the importance of the comprehensive plan, the update process and present background information.

The group decided to publicize the meetings by running ads, news releases and distributing posters locally.

Demographics

Ross presented a draft of a demographic background report. It included:

Historic and future population trends; Growth of surrounding communities; Population age trends; Households; and Ethnicity.

Scandia has grown from about 1000 people in 1960 to 3692 in 2000 to 4189 in 2006 with 1482 households.

While it has been growing faster recently, Scandia grew more slowly (at 15 percent) between 1990 and 2000 than most of the surrounding communities.

Hugo and Wyoming were over 40 percent and Taylors Falls and Chisago City were over 30 percent growth.

The population age trends from 1990-2000 indicated Scandia lost a significant number of people from age 25-34 and some below age 10. Significant gains were made in the 45-64 and 75-84 age groups.

Household size has declined from 3.87 in 1970 to 2.84 in 2000. The percentage of married couples with children under age 18 dropped and the number of non-family households rose.

The 2000 U.S. census shows that 97.9 percent of Scandia residents listed themselves as white.

Parks, Recreation

Ross presented a summary background report of the parks plan. It summarized the findings and recommendations of the parks, trails, open space, and recreation plan and the regional park and recreation needs identified by the Metropolitan Council.

It was suggested that the park system plan map be divided into four quadrants using TH-97 and CR-3 so areas can be expanded and clarified in more detail.

Next meeting

The next Scandia Comprehensive Plan Committee meeting is the public meeting Saturday, Oct 20, at 9 a.m.

A joint CPC/Commercial Retail Development Committee meeting is Monday, Oct 22 at 6:30 p.m. The second CPC public meeting will be 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct 23.

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