River Falls Plan Commission reviews progress on 2023 comprehensive plan

The City of River Falls Plan Commission heard an update Aug. 4 on progress implementing the city’s comprehensive plan, which was adopted in 2023 and replaces a plan from 2005. Emily Shively, the city’s assistant director of community development, told the commission the plan establishes a 10–20 year vision and provides guidance for zoning, subdivision and infrastructure decisions.

Shively said the implementation chapter breaks roughly 100 actions into categories by complexity, benefit and lead department, and that the city is using strategic priorities set by the council to focus staff resources. “The city's comprehensive plan was updated in 2023,” she said. Shively also described the public engagement program used to produce the plan: an online portal (Engage River Falls), pop‑up events, stakeholder interviews, tours and surveys that together produced more than 5,000 community interactions.

Why it matters: the plan sets goals in six areas—connection, livability, access, resources, partnerships and resiliency—that guide land‑use decisions and municipal investments. Shively said those goals inform updates to the zoning code, creation of new districts, infrastructure sequencing and partnerships with state and federal agencies.

Commission members asked about next steps and public outreach. Shively said staff will compile chapter‑by‑chapter outlines and begin a mid‑course review in 2027, with refresh work continuing into 2028; the plan will be revisited at regular intervals to remain current for grant qualifications and programming.

The commission did not take formal action on the update; it was provided for review and to guide future ordinance and project work.