The Stillwater City Council received the first public hearing on the draft Envision Stillwater 2045 comprehensive plan on Dec. 1, when consultant Dawn Thomas of Friesa Nichols presented an overview of the plan, public engagement results and the implementation roadmap.

Thomas said the draft consists of eight chapters including land use, transportation, housing, economic development, community character and infrastructure and contains 84 recommendations organized by short-, mid- and long-term priorities. She summarized public engagement outcomes — an initial open house with roughly 80 attendees, about 540 survey responses and an ideas map that collected public comments — and said the plan emphasizes infill and mixed-use development in appropriate locations, improved walkability, housing diversity and prioritizing repair and reuse of existing infrastructure.

Councilors asked how the plan differs from previous versions and about the prioritization: Thomas and staff said the plan’s implementation chapter provides an action-oriented roadmap and that many Priority 1 items include work already underway or items easily folded into operating practice; staff recommended annual review and a more substantive review every five years. No action was taken; a second public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 15, when the council may consider a motion to adopt.

Outcome: informational presentation and first public hearing; Planning Commission provided a unanimous recommendation on Nov. 18. Next steps: second public hearing Dec. 15 and possible council action on adoption.