Comprehensive Plan

The New Ulm City Council adopted a new New Ulm Comprehensive Plan on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

Vision Statement

New Ulm is a thriving and safe community with outstanding historic and recreational assets and a diverse economy. It has welcoming neighborhoods, excellent education and a high quality of life that meets the needs of both current and future residents.

What is a Comprehensive Plan?

A Comprehensive Plan is a vision of what a city wants to be. It is guide to help shape a city’s future growth, protect what a community values, and enhance what the community wants to improve. 

The comprehensive planning process looks at existing challenges and sets guidelines and policies for future development. The Comprehensive Plan will address land use, transportation, housing, economic development, public utilities, and parks and open spaces.

Using community input, this Plan outlines the future of New Ulm. It establishes goals and strategies to move toward that future. This plan focuses on implementation and include initiatives that can be started in the near future. It identifies other initiatives that will take longer to achieve.

The Comprehensive Plan is one of the most important public documents the city has since it lays the foundation for land use management and control of properties in and outside the city.

The city's zoning ordinance, zoning map and subdivision regulations are intended to carry out the general provisions of the Comprehensive Plan.

Public Input

There was significant public input received in the development of the Plan including:

• Over 2,400 participants provided input through two online surveys.
• Over 200 comments and ideas were received on four online interactive maps.
• 7 Project Steering Committee meetings were held.
• 5 in-person events with over 100 participants.
• 1 Open House with approximately 35 attendees.