By Sara StrongThe latest draft of the Comprehensive Plan makes it clear how Luverne can organize and plan its way to a successful layout, including business and residential growth.Plan consultant Rusty Fifield said, "We delved into character, clearly more than in your current Plan."The Plan process is at the draft stage now, and committee members will narrow their focus and bring concerns to a meeting for a final draft next month.Fifield said at a Comprehensive Plan meeting Tuesday, "It’s important that your zoning ordinances flow back to the Comprehensive Plan.That means that the city should follow it’s own advice when opportunities for development or redevelopment arise — and steer the appropriate developments to the right areas of town based on the Plan.One of the brainstorms to come out of the Comprehensive Plan so far, is to have a stopping point for visitors just off Interstate 90. The Chamber would be ideal for this.City Zoning Administrator Dan Delgehausen threw out the idea that a herd of bison could be located behind businesses off Highway 75 and Interstate 90. That would draw people, and make Luverne’s prairie/bison theme more visual, rather than conceptual. Drivers could see it and make unplanned stops, increasing the potential to spend money in town.Of course, it’s just an idea at this point, but the Plan committee was excited about theme ideas and business that could branch off of that.Also new out of these planning meetings is the idea of developing a campground near the existing City Park. Kniss Avenue The Plan says it "seeks to sustain and enhance the residential quality of the Kniss Avenue corridor north of Main Street."Redevelopment of the area, as homes are sold, should focus on residential uses, not converting homes to businesses.It also says the intersection of Kniss and Main should become a strong physical and visual connection with the downtown. If that occurred, then people would be attracted off Kniss and into the downtown.DowntownEven though downtown is primarily for commercial uses, parks are a part of the outskirts of downtown, the City Park, Redbird Field and Riverside Park.The parks offer a "source of attraction for the downtown. People pass through the downtown business district to gain access to these parks. Tapping into this market provides a business development opportunity."The Plan also said a trailhead between downtown and Blue Mounds State Park should be established near the Public Works Building. Presently, there is no symbol to newcomers that the path leads to the state park.The Plan raises the possibility of starting a campground adjacent to a city park.Despite access to existing parks, the downtown isn’t a green place. Buildings and parking dominate the core of downtown, but a few green features could help its overall image."Trees, plantings and other landscaping should be included in streetscape improvements," the Plan said. Municipal parking lots also provide an opportunity for bringing small green spaces into the downtown.North and south developmentsGrowth on the north and south edges of Luverne are tailored for highway business, commercial and industrial in this Plan.Fifield said that current residential properties south of Interstate 90 may need to resign themselves to the fact that businesses want to locate on Highway 75 near the interstate. "It seems to me to be a strong business area, and if you allow it go to residential, you lose that opportunity," he said.Considering the new airport project, Fifield said the area is directing the way it wants to go, even without a clear Comprehensive Plan. Development to the north of Luverne, where the new hospital and clinic will be, will be commercial. The city will try to limit commercial sprawl to businesses related to the hospital and clinic. Other businesses that may want to locate near the hospital, simply to capitalize on higher traffic counts, will be steered toward other commercial districts in town.The Plan committee doesn’t want the rest of the town vacated and shifted toward the new hospital area.The next Comprehensive Plan meeting will go over the same concepts after committee members have had time to consider options.