Le Sueur Co. comprehensive plan update leaves feelings of frustration

Le Sueur County is updating its comprehensive land use and zoning code, titled “Vision 2050,” and held a public meeting Thursday, Jan. 30, at the Le Center American Legion. According to a survey provided to a large crowd the update is to better serve and guide the county’s growth. The work over this year is to “create a plan that balances its rich historical past and resources,” said the beginning of the survey. The new comprehensive plan is to grow the county’s tax base and guide the county over the next 25 years.

Comments at the meeting showed that some county residents are feeling frustration, especially with how county staff doesn’t seem to be listening to people over this project and past ones.

Among those presenting the project were Aaron Stubbs, Le Sueur County environmental services director and planning and zoning administrator, and Sarah Swedburg, a community planner with Bolton & Menk, Inc., which is leading the project. Work on the update began around October and the project is contracted to not to exceed $188,205.

The update is to also find how much land in the county is available for commercial and residential use, said presenters. It was also noted that it will allow county staff and residents to have discussions about changing residential land to commercial.

The presentation also included information about the county, with a population of 29,360, showing that it has 2,707 residents who live and work in the county, 9,202 residents who live in the county but are employed outside of it, and 3,561 people that work in the county but live elsewhere.

It was asked if there would be state funds to help with the project, since the comprehensive plan update is authorized by the state. Organizers said there would not be state funds available.

There were residents who wanted to know why people who live outside the county and don’t pay taxes toward it were being allowed to have a say in the survey. Organizers of the meeting said they wanted perspectives of those who come to the county to shop, use parks or roads, or might own property in the county.

The group present was asked what people liked best about the county. They replied that they liked....

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