As part of its update of the comprehensive plan, the city will host public workshops to develop planning concepts for four key growth areas.

The four-day workshop series will assist the city and its consultants in developing concepts for four key areas in New Ulm: downtown, Upper Cottonwood, east airport development, and the northwest New Ulm/Milford area.

Much of the city’s future industrial, commercial and residential growth is expected to take place in those four areas.

The workshops will help the community and the city’s consultants to draw up initial concepts and ideas to help put the planning process in motion.

A temporary design studio will be set up at the Community Center, 600 N. German St. The consultant’s design team will work there every day and host public workshops each night starting at 5:30 p.m from Wednesday, Oct. 19, to Friday Oct. 21. A final community meeting on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 10 a.m. will reveal all the concepts and ideas developed.

Members of the public are invited to attend the workshops as well as join site tours of each of the sites. The tours will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday for the downtown and Upper Cottonwood areas, and 9 a.m. Friday for the east airport and northwest New Ulm/Milford areas. Additional informal conversations will help the design team learn about the community’s preferences and ideas.

More information, including a detailed schedule, tour starting locations and opportunities to provide additional comments, is available at the plan’s website at newulmmn.gov/551/2022-Comprehensive-Plan.