The City of Ankeny has experienced record breaking growth over the past several years. To proactively manage this growth, the City has embarked upon a complete rewrite of its comprehensive plan. The City has a rich history of long-range planning and has created and adopted many comprehensive plans. The proposed plan, The Ankeny Plan 2040, represents a new, fresh look at the community and takes into account the significant growth the City has experienced in recent years, while maintaining the core values of the community that has made Ankeny such a great community to live, work and play.
To initiate a fully transparent Comprehensive Plan process, on January 20, 2016, the City issued a Request for Proposals to prepare a Comprehensive Plan for the City of Ankeny. The City received twelve proposals from a variety of consultants located across the Midwest and the Country. A review committee of City staff was assembled to review the proposals, interview selected consultants and make a recommendation to the Mayor and City Council of the preferred consultant. After careful review and consideration, the Review Committee unanimously recommended to the Mayor and City Council that Confluence be hired to lead the Comprehensive Plan project for the City of Ankeny.
A Comprehensive Plan Advisory Team (CPAT) was established to serve as a steering committee to work with Confluence and City staff on this project. The CPAT was comprised of:
• Gary Lorenz, Mayor
• Bobbi Bentz, City Council
• Kerry Walter-Ashby, City Council
• Trina Flack, Plan and Zoning Commission
• Glenn Hunter, Plan and Zoning Commission
• David Jones, City Manager
• Paul Moritz, Assistant City Manager
• Eric Jensen, Planning and Building Director
• Eric Carstens, Planning Administrator
• Mark Mueller, Public Works Director
• Don Clark, Municipal Utilities Director
• Derek Lord, Economic Development Director
• Nick Lenox, Parks and Recreation Director
• Amy Baker, Communications Manager
The CPAT worked with the consultant and City staff for approximately 18 months to prepare, review and modify The Ankeny Plan 2040. In addition to normal research and background work, this effort included:
• A Public Kickoff Meeting attended by more than 150 people
• A Public Survey completed by over 2,200 citizens
• Dozens of Individual Stakeholder Meetings
• A Youth Workshop
• Two Meetings with the
Ankeny Economic Development Corporation
• Public Booths at both the Ankeny Farmers Market and Summerfest
• Eight Advisory Committee Meetings
• An Advisory Committee Tour of Developments in Minneapolis
• Two Joint Plan and Zoning Commission/City Council Worksessions
• A Public Open House Unveiling the Draft Plan attended by more than 150 people.
Staff is extremely pleased with the work of Confluence and the Advisory Team. Staff is proud of the draft plan and believe it represents the public input that was provided throughout the process and that the plan will guide the City as Ankeny continues to grow and develop. |