City Detail

Through a contract with Energy Management Solutions (EMS), Plymouth has entered data into the B3 Benchmarking program for city owned buildings
including: City Hall/Public Safety, Maintenance Facility, Ice Center, Community Center, 2 transit stations, 2 water treatment plants, and 3 fire stations. Plymouth is continuing to enter this data on a monthly basis.

Since 2020 the city facility division has been implementing an LED light retrofit program which has replaced existing interior halogen lights in all city facilities including: City Hall/Public Safety, Maintenance Facility, Ice Center, 2 transit
stations, 2 water treatment plants, and 3 fire stations. This work was completed in 2021.

The Plymouth Community Center (PCC) was remodeled and expanded from a 30,000 square foot venue to a 112,000 square foot community center including both education and active wings to meet community needs. Sustainability and energy efficiency were core goals from the beginning of the project design. The City followed Minnesota B3 Guidelines and Sustainability Building 2030 (SB2030) energy standards through construction and are following through with the post construction monitoring and reporting for these to be certified.

One of Plymouth's strategic priorities is to revitalize the heart of the city - Plymouth City Center. With the goal of cultivating a walkable, vibrant, pedestrian-friendly downtown, the city is focused on making changes that will continue attracting people to City Center to live, work, play, shop and eat. Plymouth City Center is roughly defined as the geographic center of Plymouth, located one mile west of Interstate 494 on Highway 55. The area contains the Hilde Performance Center, Plymouth Ice Center/Life Time facility, Plymouth Library, Plymouth City Hall, businesses, restaurants and other destinations.

Plymouth City Center 2.0 Plan
https://www.plymouthmn.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/22621/637497826975970000

Plymouth City Council updated the zoning ordinance in September 2023 to
allow for residential development in City Center (apartment, townhome or
mixed-use), to bring more people to the area.

Plymouth City Center Design Standards
https://www.plymouthmn.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/26025/638306289365370000

The 2040 Comprehensive Plan was adopted by the City Council on July 23, 2019. The plan was also accepted by and compliant with standard of the Metropolitan Council.

Development and redevelopment of the community aligning with the comprehensive plan is a fundamental guiding principle of the city zoning ordinance. The ordinance refers to the plan and city staff in administering zoning and planning applications utilize and confirm compliance with the comprehensive plan. As stated in the Intent and Purpose section of the ordinance the number one listed purpose of the section is “to assist the City in implementing its Comprehensive Plan”.

Include requirements in comprehensive and/or other plans for intergovernmental coordination addressing regional land use and watershed / wellhead impacts, infrastructure, transportation, economic development and city/regional services.

The Comprehensive plan includes the following sections which coordinate with other governmental agencies:
1. Land Use
2. Housing
3. Surface Water (including watersheds)
4. Transportation
5. Parks, Trails, Open Space, & Recreation
6. Water Supply (including wellhead impacts)
7. Sanitary Sewer
8. Public Facilities

One of the intents and purposes of the Plymouth City Subdivision Regulations is to preserve and protect the natural beauty of the community.
- Chapter V – Subdivision Regulations
-500.03.E. To encourage the wise use and management of land and natural resources throughout the City in order to preserve the integrity, stability, and natural beauty of the community.
- Zoning Code 21130.04 – Tree Preservation
- A tree preservation plan shall be submitted in conjunction with any proposal that includes a subdivision application, in accordance with Chapter V of the City Code.

City Implements MIDS to reduce impacts on the environment with the development process
- The City adopted the use of MIDS with the approval of their Surface Water Management Plan in
December 2018. As described in the plan, “The City accepts the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s
Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS), or an approved equal as the approved water quality design
standard for new, redevelopment and linear projects within the City. MIDS will help to achieve water
quality standards and meet Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) allocations for shallow and deep lakes,
streams and creeks. The City supports the emphasis of MIDS on keeping the raindrop where it falls in
order to minimize stormwater runoff, pollution and preserving our natural resources.” City staff enforce
and document MIDS compliance through private development reviews & incorporates MIDS during
design of City linear projects.
- https://www.plymouthmn.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/20055/636964666912270000 [Page 250].

Natural and Open Space Plan (starting on page 566)
- https://www.plymouthmn.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/20055/636964666912270000 [Page 250].

The City has dedicated funding sources for supporting the construction of new trail and sidewalk connections and completing trail gaps in the city. Since 2019 the City has constructed 9.38 new miles of multiuse trail across the city. The city’s capital improvement plan continues to include funding for new trail connections and improvements in the future.

The city operates its own transit service, Plymouth Metrolink, which provides express bus service, Reverse commute service, and click and ride (Formerly known as Dial a Ride) curb-to-curb service. These options enable residents access to affordable local public transportation, connectivity to express bus
service and the regional transit systems and provides local Plymouth businesses access to regional workforce. These service offerings are outlined on the City’s website and also communicated prominently throughout the community. Transit maps are available at Plymouth City Hall and the Plymouth Community Center and the city has done communication campaigns around these services including adding information in the community newsletter and ads on electronic billboards, Facebook, & Nextdoor.

Plymouth has been a Tree City USA certified community for 39 years.

Tree Preservation Ordinance – Section 530 of City Code.
Native Landscaping Ordinance – Section 811 of City Code.

The City adopted the use of MIDS with the approval of their Surface Water Management Plan in December 2018. As described in the plan, “The City accepts the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS), or an approved equal as the approved water quality design standard for new, redevelopment and linear projects within the City. MIDS will help to achieve water quality standards and meet Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) allocations for shallow and deep lakes, streams and creeks. The City supports the emphasis of MIDS on keeping the raindrop where it falls in order to minimize stormwater runoff, pollution and preserving our natural resources.” City staff enforce and document MIDS compliance through private development reviews & incorporates MIDS during design of City linear projects.

The City is a Level 2 Smart Salting Certified City through the MPCA.

All employees who operate snow removal equipment are Level 1 Smart Salt Certified through the MPCA

The City has dedicated funding sources for supporting the construction of new trail and sidewalk connections and completing trail gaps in the city. Since 2019 the City has constructed 9.38 new miles of multiuse trail across the city. The city’s capital improvement plan continues to include funding for new trail connections and improvements in the future.

In 2024, Plymouth will be developing two new parks; Schmidt Woods and the Meadows.

The city has goals and policies in place to guide the planning and development of a robust park system.
- Provide a high-quality park and open space system that offers a balance of active and passive recreational opportunities.
1. Continue to maintain and renovate the Park System.
2. Build and maintain the Northwest Greenway.
3. Acquire the land needed for new parks and trails by requiring dedication in new developments and
by purchasing land for community-wide park needs.
4. Add and enhance cultural resources and historic interpretive opportunities.
5. Continue to include natural areas as a component of the Park System.
6. Consider acquiring areas of unique, high-quality open space or natural resources that are not
adequately protected by regulations.
7. Establish regulations and incentives that will require or encourage private preservation of open space
and natural resources.
8. Prohibit private parks from serving as a substitute for any segment of the public park system.
- Develop and maintain a trails and sidewalk system throughout the community to provide recreation
opportunities and encourage nonmotorized transportation.
1. Provide trails and sidewalk connections among municipal and regional parks, neighborhoods and
major activity centers.
2. Provide trails and sidewalk connections to state, regional, county and adjoining community trail
systems.
3. Identify physical barriers to non-motorized access and provide connections across these barriers at
key locations where feasible.
4. Consider providing trails and sidewalks on both sides of streets when roadway traffic speed, volumes
or other safety considerations warrant.
5. Establish a functional hierarchy of trails and sidewalks relating to maintenance, jurisdiction and
financing.
6. Remove snow from designated trails and sidewalks based on defined City Council approved criteria.
- Provide recreation programs and facilities that are well used, accessible and cost-effective.
1. Monitor recreation trends and use patterns, and respond with appropriate programs and facilities.
2. Continue to maintain and seek additional partnerships with school districts, athletic associations,
contractors and other providers of recreational opportunities.
3. Where there are opportunities for partnerships, act as a facilitator rather than the provider of new
recreational facilities and programs.
4. Assess user fees to offset operation and maintenance costs for public facilities when warranted.
5. Continue to update and provide accessible programs, facilities, parks and trails.

The City has a robust program to involve community members with invasive species management, land restoration and water quality improvement projects. Programs include but are not limited to:
1. Garlic Mustard Removal
a. Tween volunteer aged 11-13 sign up through the Parks & Rec guide. City staff and volunteers,
including Master Naturalists, lead this event.
b. Wayzata High School Volunteer Club members participate in an event scheduled just for them.
City staff and volunteers, including Master Naturalists, lead this event.
c. Members of Scout Troop 477 have removed garlic mustard from West Medicine Lake Park since
2021
d. Regular City volunteers and WHS students remove garlic mustard during the annual Plant & Pull
Day event typically held the first Saturday in June. During that event, colorful annuals are also
planted to add beauty to city parks and buildings.
e. Information about garlic mustard removal is listed on the volunteer webpage
(www.plymouthmn.gov/volunteer) in the Environmental opportunities section to encourage
residents to remove garlic mustard on their own. There is a short educational/instructional video
on how to remove narrated by a volunteer embedded on the webpage.
2. Buckthorn Removal
a. Each fall volunteers remove invasive buckthorn from City parks and green spaces.
b. City staff members and volunteers lead buckthorn busts during two scheduled events each year.
Participants include residents, neighbors, Wayzata High School Volunteer Club members, members
of local faith-based organizations, Scouts, etc. Ongoing efforts over a decade have eradicated
buckthorn from Maple Creek Park.
c. Some dedicated volunteers remove buckthorn on their own.
d. Information about buckthorn removal is listed on the volunteer webpage
(www.plymouthmn.gov/volunteer) in the Environmental opportunities section to encourage
residents to remove buckthorn on their own. There is a short educational/instructional video on
how to remove narrated by a volunteer embedded on the webpage.
3. Native Garden Club
a. In 2022, over 100 volunteers planted around 10,000 native pollinators to provide food and shelter
for pollinators, birds and small mammals. In addition to the forbs, there is an adjacent urban forest
of blueberries, raspberries, apples and other fruit trees. A dedicated volunteer garden captain
leads scheduled work sessions each month from June through September to weed and maintain
the pollinator garden at Fazendin Park. There are 7 scheduled dates for 2024. More information
can be found on the volunteer webpage (www.plymouthmn.gov/volunteer).
4. Adopt-a-Spot Program
a. Residents may volunteer to adopt a garden, park, dog waste station, fire hydrant, storm drain or
street to benefit their neighbors and the community as a whole. Adopting these items/locations
helps ensure Plymouth stays clean and safe.
https://www.plymouthmn.gov/departments/parks-recreation/volunteer/adopt-a-spot

Plymouth has a long history of monitoring surface water quality (since 2000 for some sites) and reports this information in our annual Surface Water Monitoring Report in June of each year for the prior year.

The regulations contained in the section of the Shoreland Management Overlay code are intended to guide and govern the wise development of shoreland of public waters, thus preserving and enhancing the quality of surface waters, preserving the economic and natural environmental values of shorelands, and providing for the wise utilization of water and related land resources in the City. It is the intent of the code to implement the goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan with respect to the identified shoreland areas. The regulations contained within this section establishing this overlay district are intended to manage areas suitable for development of varying types as allowed in the underlying zoning district. It is the intent that this section be administered in conjunction with the adopted land use regulations and requirements of this Chapter and of other ordinances, codes, and policies.

Plymouth has several TMDLs for the waterbodies throughout the community. We incorporate the strategies outlined in each TMDL and associated watershed restoration and protection strategy (WRAPS) into the Surface Water Management Plan. To complete the goals, we partner with the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission, Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission, Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, Hennepin County and State of Minnesota (MPCA/BWSR).

a. Plymouth TMDL Reports: https://www.plymouthmn.gov/departments/public-works/surface-water-resources/tmdl-reports
b. Plymouth Surface Water Management Plan: https://www.plymouthmn.gov/departments/public-works/surface-water-resources/surface-water-management-plan

The City has City Code Section 710 – Regulation of individual sewage treatment systems in place whereby Hennepin County implements County Ordinance No. 19, Individual Sewage Treatment Systems.
-Plymouth City Code 710:
- https://library.municode.com/mn/plymouth/codes/code_of_ordinances nodeId=CICO_CHVIIPUUT_S710REINSETRSY
- Hennepin County Ordinance 19:
- https://www.hennepin.us/your-government/ordinances/ordinance-19