Consultant presents draft Envision Stillwater 2045; council schedules second public hearing Dec. 15

The Stillwater City Council received the first public hearing on the draft Envision Stillwater 2045 comprehensive plan on Dec. 1. Dawn Thomas of Friesa Nichols (consultant team) summarized the plan’s structure, public engagement and implementation framework and said the plan contains eight content chapters and an implementation matrix of 84 recommendations.

Thomas described public outreach and technical work that informed the plan: advisory committee meetings, three large public engagement activities, online survey responses and interactive mapping exercises. “The Envision Stillwater 2045 Comprehensive Plan consists of 8 chapters,” Thomas said, outlining land use, transportation, housing and neighborhoods, economic development, community character, and infrastructure, with an implementation element of prioritized recommendations.

Thomas told council the plan emphasizes infill and mixed‑use development in appropriate locations, improving walkability and infrastructure maintenance, and an implementation focus intended to guide staff and elected officials. She said the consultant team recommended annual and five‑year reviews to keep priorities current. The Planning Commission provided a unanimous recommendation when it reviewed the draft on Nov. 18.

No public commenters spoke at this first hearing. Henry Bibelheimer reminded the council that no action would be taken until the second public hearing scheduled for Dec. 15, when the council could vote on a resolution to adopt the plan.

Next steps: second public hearing Dec. 15, 2025; council may consider a resolution to adopt the plan at that meeting.