Rosemount Picks Stantec to Help Plan the City's Next 10 Years
TLDR
- On Sept. 15, the Rosemount City Council hired Stantec to lead the city's next comprehensive plan update.
- The vote was 3-1, with Council Member Freske voting no.
- Seven firms applied, with bids ranging from about $99,000 to $257,000.
- The plan is due to the Metropolitan Council by the end of 2028, and it will include outreach to residents and young people.
Where should new homes go? What about parks, roads, and businesses? Rosemount is about to start answering those questions for the next decade. At the Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026 Rosemount City Council meeting, the council hired a consulting firm to guide the process.
What's a Comprehensive Plan, Anyway?
Think of it as Rosemount's big-picture roadmap. It shows what kind of development can go where, from housing to shops to parks. It also covers roads, water, and other services.
Every city in the Twin Cities metro area has to update its plan every 10 years. It's state law. The updated plans go to the Metropolitan Council, the regional planning agency, for review.
Rosemount's current plan is the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. (You can see an example, like its parks and trails chapter, on the city website.) Now it's time for the next one.
And it matters. That map is the reason the council could vote on changing land near County Road 42 from apartments to commercial at this same meeting.
Why Stantec?
This summer, city staff asked consulting firms to send proposals. Seven firms applied.
Senior Planner Anthony Nemcek said it was competitive. Staff picked Stantec for a few reasons:
- A big team. Stantec has a broad group of planners and support staff.
- They know Rosemount. Stantec has worked with the city before and understands its vision.
- They get the growth. Rosemount still has lots of land that hasn't been developed yet. Stantec understands how the city will grow into those areas.
- Strong public outreach. More on that below.
How You'll Get a Say
Stantec's plan for talking with residents has three big steps:
- Build a clear vision for Rosemount's future
- Check that vision with residents to make sure it fits
- Help set priorities
One piece stood out to staff. Stantec plans to reach out to Rosemount's youth. As Nemcek put it, young people will be the ones who benefit from the planning done today.
The Money Question and the "No" Vote
One council member asked two good questions. Had the city worked with Stantec before? And where were the other bids to compare prices?
Staff said the seven proposals ranged from about $99,000 to $257,000. The city's staff report puts Stantec's fee at $152,404, which staff say is in line with what the city budgeted.
Staff also explained this isn't like a construction project, where the lowest bid usually wins. For professional services like planning, the city picks the firm that best fits what it asked for.
Another question came up about the city's recent visioning studies. Rosemount has done two. The first was led by a firm called Perkins and Will. The second, done in the past year, was by Stantec. One council member noted there was a difference in the quality of work between the two. City staff also said Rosemount has hired Stantec for other projects multiple times.
Council Member Essler made the motion and Council Member Paul Theisen seconded. The vote was 3-1, with Council Member Heidi Freske voting no. (The mayor first called it 4-0, then corrected it after Freske pointed out she'd voted nay.) She didn't explain her vote at the meeting.
What Happens Next
Work will start before the end of 2026. The finished plan is due to the Metropolitan Council by the end of 2028, though staff hope to finish sooner.
Expect surveys, open houses, or other ways to share your ideas over the next two years.
The Bottom Line
This is one of those votes that sounds boring but shapes almost everything. The comprehensive plan decides where future homes, stores, and parks can go in Rosemount. That includes big proposals like the warehouse project near Highway 52.
So when Stantec starts asking for input, speak up. It's your best shot at shaping what Rosemount looks like in 2050 and beyond. Want to see how these land use decisions play out in real time? Our Rosemount planning commission recap is a good place to start, and so is our earlier Rosemount council recap.
