When Greg Gilbert was elected to the City Council in 1998, the City of Duluth did not have a comprehensive land use plan and its zoning code had not been updated in over 30 years. As a result of this lack of planning, approval of development projects was often random and shortsighted. This led to frequent community controversy over development projects and land use.
In 2006, the City of Duluth adopted a Comprehensive Land Use Plan. In 2010, the city replaced its antiquated zoning code with the Unified Development Code. One advantage of the Unified Development Code is that it provides more flexibility in making land use decisions than the previous code.
Greg Gilbert served as chair of the city council’s planning committee when the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Unified Development Code were developed. He sponsored city council ordinances for the adoption of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Unified Development Code.
As a result of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Unified Development Code, development projects have progressed much more smoothly and rationally. All developers and residents who are concerned about land use in Duluth should consult the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Unified Development Code.
A copy of Duluth’s Comprehensive Plan may be obtained online here.
Duluth’s Unified Development Code can be accessed here.