City of Hastings Development Services Neighborhood Character Study Results Released

A preference for new and improved sidewalks, privacy fences, and “missing middle” housing development were among key findings in a recent City of Hastings neighborhood character study.

The City of Hastings Development Services Department’s recent Neighborhood Character Survey was developed to gather opinions on neighborhood characteristics. Characteristics included in the survey included sidewalks, fences, attached garages, and housing types. 

The 19-question survey was conducted from Nov. 17 to Dec. 31, 2025. The survey was available online at engage.cityofhastings.org and as a paper copy at the Hastings Museum.

The survey divided the Hastings community into four neighborhood quadrants: South Hastings, West Hastings, Central Hastings and East Hastings. 

Regardless of the part of the community considered, respondents consistently emphasized the importance of sidewalks in their neighborhoods. This further corroborates information identified in the Hastings Walkability and Connectivity Study conducted in 2019, which also identified a need for new and improved sidewalks. The future subdivision code rewrite could ensure the continuation of sidewalks through requirements for developers to provide sidewalks in new developments.

Additionally, the majority of survey respondents identified a preference for privacy fences in their neighborhoods throughout the community. The zoning code rewrite could also include requirements for fencing materials and heights to support this vision for the community.

In regard to housing types, survey respondents were generally supportive of missing middle housing types with at least 40% of respondents selecting some type of missing middle housing for each portion of the community.

This is in line with the 2025 Comprehensive Plan of Hastings, which identifies actions the City should take to support development, including encouraging missing middle development and higher density throughout the community. The zoning code rewrite could implement this vision by allowing for gentle density such as duplexes/triplexes throughout the community, as well as multi-plex buildings such as four-to-six-unit buildings and six-to-12-unit buildings in higher density residential zoning districts.

In conclusion, rewriting the zoning code to take into account survey respondents’ opinions will provide community members with a way to ensure that the community fits their vision while also aligning with adopted codes and plans such as the 2025 Comprehensive Plan, 2023 Affordable Housing Action Plan, and relevant State Statutes.